Don and Carrie Schroeder

Making a difference by: designating a gift of real estate to fund K-State faculty development.

K-State connection: Don Schroeder, DVM, is a 1962 and 1964 graduate of K-State. He and his wife Carrie now reside in Fairplay, Colo.

Why they gave: “Just knowing that K-State was such a part of our lives, education and career wise, and has remained a part of our lives, we felt that at some point, you need to pay it forward to try to contribute and enrich the lives of others who are going to benefit,” Carrie said.

How they did it: Using the value of their Breckinridge, Colo., condominium, the Schroeders established a charitable remainder unitrust, naming the KSU Foundation as the trustee. The trust reinvested the proceeds from the sale of property and pays an income to the Schroeders for life and they receive a charitable deduction. When the trust ends, the remaining assets will be used for faculty support at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Impact/Why it matters: “We have this set up as a support for staff we feel will also benefit students,” Don said. “The quality staff available to me at K-State is what really helped me in my life. They are the reason I really wanted to do something for K-State — the accessibility of instructors and their willingness to teach courses, and in many cases, to give us life instruction.”

What people are saying: “You don’t have to have a large estate; you don’t have to have heirs. There are a variety of ways to do these things depending on your situation,” Don said. “I would encourage people to be aware that this is an avenue to pay it forward, to help others. When you receive a good education, you like to see that passed on. We can’t necessarily pay back those who have helped us; we can only help others when possible.”