A Worthy Successor — Charitable Gift Annuity

Joan Poppert Jacobs M-D'53

As a graduate of Milwaukee-Downer College, class of 1953, I have innumerable memories of a golden time in a golden place. Our faculty, almost entirely women, many of them holding Ph.D.s, not only inspired respect but were models for a studious life of accomplishment. They, along with the administration, fostered a sense of serious purpose which felt right to me. At Downer, the aim of making a life came before making a living. That has served me well and represents to me a hallmark of a fine college or university.

Matriculating to M-DC, I was the recipient of a $600 Honor Scholarship, $150 per year. Annual tuition was $600 a year, so my scholarship covered one quarter of the cost. Early on, I decided that I wanted to give back at least as much as I had received.

Many years after the 1964 merger of Milwaukee-Downer with Lawrence, I concluded that Lawrence, now a university, was that kind of institution and a worthy successor to my alma mater. I decided that a charitable annuity would fulfill the promise I made to myself as well as afford me a source of income. And so it was done. This annuity, part of my class's 50th Reunion gift, will help countless future Lawrentians to "make a life" for themselves.