Donor Stories

When Florence M. Nelson, a 1947 UNI graduate, contacted the UNI Foundation to establish a scholarship fund utilizing a charitable gift annuity, she was heard to say, "This is the best thing I've ever done."

Florence, who retired from teaching in 1986 after a 43-year career, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. "My mother was a teacher, and I always knew that one day I would be, too."

After finishing her degree in business education at UNI, Florence went on to teach high school at Des Moines East High.

"I have a million wonderful memories from my teaching days, and so many funny stories. I was really fortunate to do work that I love, and have the chance to touch so many young lives," she said.

Recently Florence was surprised with a phone call from a student she had taught her very first year of teaching. The class was planning a reunion and asked Florence if she might attend.

"After all these years, it was simply an amazing experience and reminded me of the lasting impression we create as educators." Recognizing the rising cost of tuition, Florence has also made a bequest in her will that names the UNI Foundation as beneficiary of a percentage of her estate. The proceeds of this bequest will go to the scholarship that she has established.

When asked how she was inspired to develop a scholarship fund with UNI, Florence explained, "There were two outstanding young women whom I had worked with during my teaching days. Both of them were really caring individuals who wanted to become teachers and both earned scholarships to UNI. I thought about the high caliber of students that UNI helps along, and I wanted to be a part of making that happen.

Setting up a charitable gift annuity was an easy decision for me. On the practical side, the payments help my income. While other investments have shrunk over the past few years, the charitable gift annuity through UNI has provided steady payments that I appreciate.

I believe in young people, and I get a great deal of joy out of knowing that the bequest in my will and proceeds from the charitable gift annuity will help along the youth of tomorrow."

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