Photo by Kim Sims, courtesy of the Duke University Archives The Duke community recently said “good bye” to a long-time campus resident, friend and generous donor. Eleanore (“Elli”) Jantz passed away this past summer at the age of 104. She was the last private resident of the faculty houses lining Campus Drive leading up to […]

Michael Schwartz M.H.A.’71, J.D.’82, P’94 attributes many of his blessings in life to Duke. Before attending Duke, Michael was an army infantry officer. He received his masters and law degree from Duke, then worked at Duke Medical Center for 12 years. He and his wife, Phyllis, established two charitable gift annuities in appreciation for Duke […]

Chun Lam has spent the last decade contemplating the meaning of life. After careful consideration, he’s arrived at the conclusion: The part of us that lives on after we are gone is what we give back. “As I become older, I have started to get more philosophical about the world. We are not here for […]

Thanks to the generosity of Duke alumnus, Joel Martin ’48, an important part of Duke history has recently returned to Durham. With the help of his daughter, Elizabeth Martin, Martin donated an original pen and ink architectural drawing of Duke Chapel by Julian Abele, a prominent African-American architect and chief designer in the officers of […]

It’s never too early to being planning for your future. Contrary to popular belief, estate planning is not just for older individuals. In fact, younger people can find the planning process to be both worthwhile and relatively simple to begin. This article from WealthManagement describes the importance of planning for one’s foreseeable future (like marriage, […]

As more Baby Boomers reach retirement age we are seeing greater interest in charitable gifts that help save taxes (pre- or post-retirement) and/or produce lifetime income. In some of these cases, the best gift choice for a donor may involve unlocking the value of appreciation in real estate. Generally, the real estate being considered for […]

In an effort to stimulate the U.S. economy following the onset of The Great Recession in 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank reduced interest rates to historic lows. Post-2008 fixed income investments—including bonds, Certificates of Deposit, and money market funds—fell dramatically and investors who relied heavily on those assets suffered the most. Likewise, the payout rates […]

(Left to right): Heather Wilkinson Deguire ’98; Hayley Wilkinson Brammer ’00; Bev Wilkinson P’98, P’00, P’03; Jerry Wilkinson B.S.E.’67, P’98, P’00, P’03; and Hilary Wilkinson Bayer ’03 “My experience at Duke not only formed me as a person, but transformed me,” said Jerry Wilkinson B.S.E.’67, P’98, P’00, P’03, who received a degree in electrical engineering […]

Duke Trustee Emeritus Karl von der Heyden ’62 and his wife, Mary Ellen P’87, have a deep affinity for the arts. As New York City residents since 1987, the von der Heydens have embraced the ever-present and thriving arts culture that the city is known for. “We love the theater and go there frequently,” said […]

As the year draws to a close, you may consider making a tax-efficient gift to Duke through a life income gift known as a charitable gift annuity (CGA). CGAs provide a meaningful way to support Duke’s future while allowing you to secure a fixed income for you and your loved ones. When you establish a […]