Why we gave

Our donors speak: “Why I give”

Marianne Humburg

Marianne Humburg
“I had the opportunity to attend the International Textile Marketing Association conference during my senior year at KU, and it opened my eyes to the things I didn’t know were out there in the industry. This was a small way I could give back to KU and help others.”
— Marianne Humburg, fine arts ’08

Marianne Humburg, a textile designer in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., gave $250 to provide airfare for KU students to attend the annual conference of the textile marketing association. Students meet with CEOs and designers for critiques and portfolio reviews. The association pays most expenses, but students must pay airfare. Humburg’s gift inspired two anonymous donors to contribute an additional $2,000, so all nine KU students who wanted to attend this year’s tour were able to go.

John Fowler II
“I’m grateful to KU Endowment for loaning me the $200, but also to the university and the civil engineering program for all they prepared me to be. I just hope this scholarship support means half as much to students as that loan meant to me.”
– John Fowler II, civil engineering ’59

John Fowler II and his wife, Doris, Hume, Va., gave $164,000 to create the John Fowler II Scholarship for junior and senior civil engineering majors from Kansas and Missouri. Fowler put himself through school. In 1959, midway through his final semester, he was carrying 22 hours, had no time for a job and was out of money. He turned to KU Endowment and received a $200 loan that got him through. By graduation, he had several job offers. He retired in 2006 as CEO of the Dewberry Companies, a Virginia-based firm that owns five architecture and engineering companies.

John Fowler II and his wife, Doris

Julie Gerson

Gerson Companies
“Floriene Lieberman has been a longtime family friend and a mentor to my mom, especially as she battled breast cancer. Floriene is a donor and advocate for The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and she shared with us the advances KU is making in fighting breast cancer. We felt it was our responsibility to support this great institution in our own backyard.”
— Jim Gerson, president of Gerson Companies and son of Julie Gerson

Gerson Companies, a family-owned design, import and distribution business in Olathe, Kan., gave $25,000 to honor breast cancer survivor Julie Gerson. The donation to the Breast Cancer Survivorship Fund provides individualized plans for cancer survivors and at-risk patients to help reduce their risk of breast cancer and to manage the negative aspects of some treatments and risk-reduction strategies.

Jane Veatch Barber
“Dick Barber had a deep and enjoyable relationship with the Hall family in Kansas City, and naming this pathway in his honor is highly appropriate.”
– Thomas V. Murray, classics ’69, son of Jane Veatch Barber and stepson of Dick Barber

Jane Veatch Barber, college ’42, Lawrence, gave $40,000 to build a new, landscaped walkway on Mount Oread’s south slope. The gift honors the memory of her husband, Richard A. Barber, college ’32 and law ’34, who practiced law in Lawrence for more than 50 years and taught estate planning at the KU School of Law in the 1970s. When the Hall Center for the Humanities moved to its current location in 2005, an old walkway was removed, and students wore a path through the grass. The new walkway follows that path, from behind the university powerhouse, past the Hall Center, to a parking lot and Sunnyside Ave.

Jane Veatch Barber in the 1960s

Jerry Smith and his wife, Lee

Jerry and Lee Smith
“We established funds to benefit the faculty because of the positive experiences I had with so many professors in the city manager program and in architectural engineering. The professors involved me and guided me and nurtured me and took care of me. I wanted to do something to give back.”
— Jerry Smith, architectural engineering ’54, master’s in public administration ’60

Jerry Smith and his wife, Lee, Norman, Okla., created a $30,000 faculty fund and a $10,000 gift annuity for the Department of Public Administration, as well as a $10,000 gift annuity for faculty development in architectural engineering.

David Watson
“My association with Rock Chalk and Ann Eversole started in 1981, and by my senior year, I was executive director. The hundreds of students who participate in Rock Chalk make an amazing contribution to United Way. KU and the Lawrence community should be proud.”
– David Watson, business ’84, Brookfield, Wis.

David Watson gave $250 online to support the Ann Eversole Rock Chalk Revue Fund, which honors Eversole’s nearly 20 years as Revue adviser. She retired in spring of 2009 from her position as assistant vice provost for student success. Revue proceeds go to the United Way of Douglas County; it is one of the largest contributors.

David Watson in 1984

Walter Fahrer in the 1950s

Norm and Mary Fahrer
“I hope future students will take inspiration from the struggles and life experiences of both my father and me in overcoming humble beginnings to achieve success and happiness in life. While financial and professional achievements and recognition are important, the personal happiness that we both found in our love of languages is the best gift we could hope to pass on.”
— Norm Fahrer, chemistry and German languages and literature ’68. Mr. Fahrer died in June 2008.

Norm and Mary Fahrer, Glen Allen, Va., gave $150,000 to create the Dr. Walter Fahrer Scholarship for students in KU’s German Summer Language Institute in Holzkirchen. The scholarship honors Norm Fahrer’s father, who was born in a village in Germany’s Black Forest region.

Katie Rodgers McCune and family
“The program’s benefit far exceeds scholarship support. Faculty mentors take a vested interest in keeping you on track, helping you choose courses and prepare for exams. Renate Mai-Dalton, the program’s director when I was in school, emphasized that somebody had invested in us and that, as alumni, it’s our duty to invest in future generations.”
– Katie Rodgers McCune

Katie Rodgers McCune, business administration ’01, and Miles McCune, general studies, ’02, Leawood; and Katie McCune’s parents, Richard and Indra Rodgers, Tulsa, gave $6,755, including matches through Katie McCune’s employment at Bank of America. The gift supports KU’s Multicultural Business Scholars Program, in which Katie participated as a student.

Miles and Katie McCune with daughter Georgia Anne

Thomas and Zora Milne, Danforth Chapel, 1954

Thomas and Zora Milne
“I hope the scholarship will support future women scientists leading research in renewable energy. Much of my scientific career was devoted to biomass conversion, which transforms plant matter and other materials into solid, liquid or gas fuels. Renewable energy will help ease global warming. It will be a leading source for the world’s energy as supplies of oil, coal and natural gas start running out in this century — and they will.” – Thomas Milne

In honor of Thomas Milne’s 80th birthday, Thomas Milne, CLAS ’50, Ph.D. in chemistry ’55, and Zora Milne, master’s in special education ’73, Evergreen, Colo.; their children and spouses: Julie Milne Esstman, social work ’79, and Mike Esstman, Irving, Texas; Janie Milne Snider, business ’77, and Jack Snider, Cypress, Texas; and Charles and Beverly Milne, Golden, Colo.; gave $30,000 to establish the Thomas A. Milne Endowed Chemistry Scholarship, which will support women doctoral students in chemistry.

David Block
“This gift gives the institute a great opportunity to further its work fighting a disease that affects us all in one way or another. The matching component gives the rest of the community an opportunity to be involved.”
– David Block

David Block, through the Emilie Rosebud Diabetes Research Foundation, Kansas City, Mo., gave $50,000 for the Great Plains Diabetes Institute, plus a challenge gift to match, dollar for dollar, the next $50,000 for research at the institute. The gift established the Great Plains Diabetes Institute Research Fund for pilot grants to local diabetes researchers. The diabetes institute, led by KU Medical Center faculty, is a collaboration among KU, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, St. Luke’s Hospital and the Via Christi Health System.

David Block

Richard Angeletti and William Dann

William Dann
“I wanted to both honor Professor Angeletti and help piano students who need scholarship assistance. You can be a great performer but not necessarily a good teacher — Richard Angeletti is both.” – William Dann

William Dann, Lawrence, who studied music at KU in the 1960s, gave $30,000 to create the Richard Angeletti Piano Scholarship in honor of Angeletti, professor emeritus of piano. Angeletti started KU’s artist-in-residence program, which lasted for 22 years and brought world-famous pianists to campus to teach and perform.

Jaculin Aaron
“I’ve entered my office basketball pool for more than 20 years. Every year I pick KU to win, and every year people laugh. I came in second because someone else also had Memphis in second. They’re not laughing this year. I gave the money to the Greater KU Fund because I thought the people there would know the best use. ”
– Jaculin Aaron

Jaculin Aaron, J.D. ’84, New York, gave $138 online, her winnings from choosing KU in an office pool to win the NCAA men’s basketball championship. The Greater KU Fund provides flexible support so the university can meet urgent needs and take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

Jaculin Aaron

Gordon Alley in 1996

Eva Alley
“The scholarship will provide the opportunity to help someone who is going into special education at the graduate level. Gordon was dedicated to research and teaching. I think this is just the thing he would have wanted.” – Eva Alley, health education, ’77, Lawrence

Eva Alley, and her children, Steven Alley, Overland Park, and Melissa Sears, Emporia, gave $30,000 to create the Gordon R. Alley Family Scholarship in Education for graduate students in special education.

Sue Wilkie Snyder
“When you go back to school at the point in life that I did, you have a whole different perspective than you do as an 18-year-old. The faculty at KU and the environment in the Department of Music provided enormous support and encouragement, especially for someone my age. I wanted to give back to the situation that had given so much to me.”
– Sue Wilkie Snyder, doctorate in music ’88 , Washoughal, Wash.

Snyder established the Phyllis Brill Munczek Voice Scholarship Fund for graduate students in voice and opera with a $100,000 gift.

Munczek and Snyder at graduation, 1988

Federico Adler
“I established this award to stimulate original research by a resident and try to stimulate the formation of clinician scientists, which are in short supply. I also wanted this award to honor the memory of my late wife, and finally to celebrate my 50 years at KU.” – Federico Adler, M.D., Shawnee Mission, Kan.

Federico Adler arrived at KU Medical Center as a resident in 1957 and then joined the faculty. Today, he is a clinical professor of orthopedic surgery. His gift of $50,000 created the Betty and Federico Adler Resident Award to recognize outstanding original medical research by a resident in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

David and Kathy Wysong
“We have two daughters who have done extremely well since graduating from their respective universities. As a graduate of KU’s J-School and a big supporter of the university’s athletic department, I wanted to give something back to both factions, in hopes that the women who receive the scholarships will excel in life after their competitive athletic careers are over.”
– David Wysong journalism ’72, Mission Hills, Kan.

Kansas Sen. David Wysong, R-Mission Hills, and Kathy Wysong gave $100,000 through the Wysong Family Foundation.

David, Elizabeth and Kathy Wysong; Erin and Mike Martin

James Seaver and Antha Cotten-Spreckelmeyer

Antha Cotten-Spreckelmeyer
“We offer an academic program, not just travel. It’s about exposure, to see that the entire world does not revolve around the things we might find important. KU students abroad are very involved and attentive to the work and what they’re seeing. They make us very proud.” – Antha Cotten-Spreckelmeyer, associate director of KU’s Humanities and Western Civilization Program

Cotten-Spreckelmeyer’s $30,000 gift established the James E. Seaver, Ph.D., Study Abroad Fund in Western Civilization.

Robert J. Meyer, M.D.
“My former colleague, Curt Rosebraugh (pharmacy ’81, M.D. ‘86), attended KU despite significant economic challenges. He has two children currently enrolled at KU, while I have two children at Virginia Tech. We bet on the Orange Bowl and thought we should settle it somehow other than cash paid to each other. I asked Curt if he was willing to have the loser donate to the rival school. The winner either way would be a great state institution of higher learning. Given my knowledge of what KU did for him, the Hixson fund seemed a fitting choice; I was delighted to contribute to this great school and cause. I hope VT and KU meet again, so VT can redeem itself and Curt can contribute to the VT Office of Recovery and Support! ”
– Robert J. Meyer, M.D., Telford, Pa.

Meyer gave $50 (with a $50 match by his employer, Merck and Co.) to support the Christina M. Hixson Opportunity Fund, which provides scholarships for undergraduates with financial need.

Denise and Bob Meyer

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