My wife, Jane, and I want to support our children and grandchildren financially if they need it, so a “planned gift” for Texas A&M — a gift that’s funded in the future — makes sense for us. Our planned gift is a bequest for Texas A&M in our wills. In the meantime, we can help if somebody in the family needs our assistance.
Jane and Bubba Woytek '64 will support Texas A&M through bequests.
And we’re not alone. Most Aggies would like to provide support for A&M and its students, but holding onto our financial resources and property provides peace of mind. If you can’t currently give as much as you would like, then a planned gift will allow you to stay secure and still be generous.
Planned gifts also let you decide how your generosity will benefit A&M. I’m a veterinarian, so it’s only natural that Jane and I believe in the veterinary profession, the college and the young people studying there. Through our planned gift, Jane and I know our bequests will help the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences: half for scholarships and half for the dean’s discretionary fund, which allows unrestricted use of the money as high-priority needs arise. Our bequests will let us share some of the blessings we have received.
You might prefer a different type of planned gift. For instance, some Aggies set up charitable trusts so that they — and perhaps other family members — may receive payments from the trust. Sometimes it’s best to provide payments over time to family members instead of in a lump sum. The trust can pay out for a fixed number of years or for whole lifetimes; it’s up to you. Texas A&M will benefit from the remainder at the termination of the trust.
As a development officer for more than 20 years, I know planned gifts are crucial to the continued strength and increasing excellence of Texas A&M. These planned gifts may not materialize for many years, but ultimately your support for Texas A&M will be realized. In the meantime you retain control and use of your accumulated assets during your lifetime.
I hope every Aggie will consider giving opportunities to see how he or she can support the wonderful accomplishments in Aggieland. Please contact me — just ask for Bubba — or anyone at the Texas A&M Foundation for information. We can work with you to create some customized gift examples that will fit your personal estate needs and goals.
By Dr. O. J. "Bubba" Woytek Jr. ’64
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academics and leadership programs to enhance Texas A&M’s capability to be among the best universities.
For additional information about how you can support Texas A&M through a planned gift, contact Angela Throne ’03 with the Foundation at (800) 392-3310, (979) 845-5638 or athrone@txamfoundation.com.
