Make an Impact Today and Tomorrow
Bob Oliver '67 made a documented planned gift to Saint Michael's by including the College as a beneficiary of his Individual Retirement Account (IRA). What's more he also makes annual gifts to the College from this IRA.
Bob chose this giving vehicle because "It's simple and automatic. With one or two clicks of the mouse, I designated Saint Michael's as a beneficiary of a percentage of my IRA. No attorneys nor paperwork were necessary. My annual gift is through the IRA Charitable Deduction. I simply write a check from my IRA account and the donation is tax-free and counts toward my Minimum Required Distribution."
In consideration of his wife who does not have a connection with the College, Bob chose his IRA as a vehicle because it makes a difference today for the College, guarantees that Saint Michael's is in his estate plan, and these gifts do not impact his family's current finances.
When asked what prompted Bob to make these gifts, he says, "I have always believed in the principal that every alumnus can afford to donate something. I made the important decision to include the College in my estate plan in conjunction with my 50th class reunion so that it counted towards my class gift fundraising goal. Saint Michael's deserves to share more fully in my good fortune, and I wanted to do my part to ensure the financial success of the College that gave so much to me."
Reflecting on what Bob appreciates most about Saint Michael's, he says, "St. Mike's proved to be an extension of the values I learned at home. It was Catholic and my time at Saint Michael's helped lay the foundation for my life by nurturing the principles of hard work, concern for one another, respect for authority and doing what is right."
"Saint Michael's was the perfect place for me, and I enjoyed every day I was there. I was extremely comfortable from the day my dad dropped me off in front of Ryan Hall." Bob mentions Father VanderWeel '58 and Col. Ruggiero as memorable and influential individuals during his time on campus. "Saint Michael's helped make me the person I am today."
Following graduation, Bob was commissioned as an officer with the U.S. Air Force and served on active duty for over four years. He later went on to obtain a master's degree and succeeded in his business life. Now retired, Bob travels extensively on hiking and biking trips around the world. Bob has hiked most of the national parks in the U.S. (including Alaska), Scotland, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Ireland, the U.K. and a few others. And he's taken eight international biking trips around the world. "It's what I love to do." Bob hopes on future trips that one or more of his six grandchildren will join him.
When asked what advice he has for current Saint Michael's students, Bob says, "take advantage of what St. Mike's has to offer, part of which is the ability to separate yourself from other people by understanding the human side of things. Listen when they teach you about common sense, working well with others, having empathy and getting involved. When you get out into the real world, you will be a person of depth. As a student, you can grow in that knowledge and appreciate the humanity in all things, which makes you a better person and, in turn helps you to be more successful."
Support Excellence in Education
You can help future generations benefit from excellence in education and life-changing by planning a gift to support Saint Michael's College's future. Contact Carla Francis at 802-654-2618 or cfrancis@smcvt.edu today with questions about planning a meaningful gift.
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. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. 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.