Flyers Paying It Forward

Denise Eder Palmer '77 and Greg Palmer '78 included the University of Dayton in their estate plan because they realize it is a powerful and comfortable way to give back to the University that brought them together over 40 years ago and made them feel at home. "I showed up to campus not knowing anyone," said Denise, "and within the first couple of days, I felt very much a part of the UD community."

Denise and Greg serendipitously met on their first day on campus in 1975. They joyfully recall watching bands play at the ECHO and evenings spent at Monk's Inn listening to solo performances. Mixed in with the fun was also the stress of working out how to self-fund their education.

They took advantage of an accelerated program to earn their accounting degrees in less than three years, and both earned scholarships. Now, they are paying it forward for the next generation of Flyers and elevating their current endowed scholarships with a gift to the University in their estate plan.

"When we set up our estate plan a while ago, we weren't at a point in our lives where we could give big annual gifts. So, we thought this is a way for us to potentially give a bigger gift, but not have to commit to giving it right away," said Denise.

"You can make an impactful contribution — not just for UD, but for the world at large — by leveraging your assets," said Greg, a retired attorney with expertise in tax planning, "If you're not currently prepared to donate at the level you would like to, then a gift made through your estate plan is a nice way to approach it."

"For us, college was one of those periods of time that made the biggest difference. We think of our roots and where we came from — compared to what we were able to achieve. By giving back to the University, we hope we can give students the same opportunity for success," said Denise.

Greg agreed and added, "By contributing to UD, you are helping to send out people who are well educated with good value systems into the world. That's one of the best ways to have a big impact."

With a little planning and the proper tools, you can make a bigger difference for the future of UD than you might realize. If you're unsure of the best way to support the University of Dayton, we're here to help! We have simple, free tools to help you develop a giving strategy that is designed to fit your needs.

For your complimentary, no-obligation guide to estate planning, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 937-229-4484 or plannedgiving@udayton.edu.

If you have already included the University of Dayton in your will or estate plan, please let us know so we can properly recognize your commitment, invite you to become a member of the Leo Meyer Society, and explore the impact you hope to have with your gift.