PDGR: Make a gift today and double the value of your support
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program is an annual competition with applications for 2024 awards accepted until December 31. These grants support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history or new scholarly and creative interests. Previous grants have covered topics such as art, statistics, social equity, science and medicine. Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available.
Retirees from all five campuses within the U of M System are eligible whether they are members of UMRA or not. Visit the Grants for Retirees webpage to find more information about the program, including the instructions for applying for 2024 funding. Please consider making an application.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to the program, do it by December 31 and your tax-deductible gift will be doubled thanks to a $20,000 challenge grant from a generous anonymous donor.
Go to the PDGR crowdfunding page to make a gift online. Or, for information about making a tax-efficient gift from an IRA if you are age 70½ or older, contact Lynn Praska, Senior Planned Giving Officer, U of M Foundation, by email or by calling her at 612-624-4158.
Email John Bantle, MD, PDGR Committee chair, if you have questions or suggestions for the grant program.
News
On December 7, many of us will lose our UMN email addresses and any files associated with these accounts. There are three basic things we need to do to prepare.
UMRA member Susan Kubitschek attended the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill and, after working at the U for 40 years, retired as assistant dean and director of Collegiate Life in the College of Science and Engineering.
Delegates to the Big Ten Retirees Association 2024 annual conference met at The Ohio State University in July to learn about Ohio State, share ideas, and develop closer ties among the 28 attendees from 12 of the 14 Big Ten schools. Minnesota will host the conference in 2026.
“UMRA members are engaged ‘University citizens’ with decades of experience at every level of this great institution, and we want to have a mutually useful and effective relationship with the Board of Regents,” says John Finnegan, UMRA’s new liaison to the regents.
UMRA member Mike Austin is taking full advantage of his retirement to volunteer in a variety of activities, travel, and learn a new language. He says, “I have the time, I have the ability, and I get bored sitting around.”
Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available to support U of M retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarship, or creative interests.
Members of UMRA’s 2024–25 Board of Directors were elected in May. Directors are elected to three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.
Fall is approaching and UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership. New membership cards for 2024–25 include the QR code you need to access one of the great benefits of membership: a discounted rate in University parking facilities.