Planned Giving
Working Together to Make a Difference: Henry Williams '70 and Rosemary Wade
Henry Williams '70 has named the College in his estate plans.
Henry Williams '70 and his wife, Rosemary Wade, make regular gifts to Kalamazoo College and have named the College in their estate plans, and Henry would like to see his peers take the same approach. "The College needs many people making gifts and bequests to make a significant difference," says Henry.
While at K, Henry studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France and played on the golf team, something he would not have been able to do at a larger school. Soon after graduating, Henry began making gifts to the College that increased over time, especially with the help of matching contributions from his employer and his wife's employer. He became one of the first members of the 1833 Society, the leadership giving society of the Kalamazoo College Fund.
When asked about what motivates him to give, Henry says that he does so for two reasons. "I have fond memories of my experiences and a desire to allow other students to have similar positive experiences," he says.
Deciding on a Gift
For Henry and Rosemary, designating a tax-exempt organization like Kalamazoo College among the beneficiaries of their retirement plan makes sense.
"Like a lot of others our age we have a large part of our estate in IRA investments, and, if a relative inherited those assets, they would pay a significant portion in income taxes. That's not the case with K," Henry says.
After hearing of Henry's early retirement in 2000, Athletic Director Bob Kent asked him to coach golf at K. With Henry's appreciation for the sport, it was a good fit, and he coached women's golf for three years until he and his wife Rosemary began to spend more of their time at their second home in Arizona.
Henry enjoys playing golf in the annual Hornet Golf Jamboree each June to support athletics at K. He still keeps track of K golf happenings from afar, and he and Rosemary are pleased to stay involved with the College through their giving.
Make Your Gift Today
If Henry and Rosemary's giving spirits inspire you, please consider making a gift of your own. Contact Andy Miller, CFRE at 269.337.7327 or amiller@kzoo.edu any time to discuss which options can best meet your financial goals.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. Kalamazoo College does not currently issue charitable gift annuities in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, or Washington. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.