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
UMRA hosted delegates from 14 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten for the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association conference in July. It was described as “the perfect collaboration” by two delegates we invited to share a few of their key takeaways from the conference.
Developing communication skills is the focus of two programs needing volunteers this fall: the “Reader/Writer Program,” assisting students in Minneapolis Public Schools grades 7-12 to develop literacy skills; and “Partners in English,” engaging in conversation with adults for whom English is not their first language.
After being unexpectedly sidelined at the outset of her retirement, Pam Snopl now enjoys doing many of the things retirees get to do, including reconnecting in person with family and friends, going to museums and weekday Minnesota Twins games, reading, and writing.
UMRA member George Swan retired in 2021 after 30+ years at University Libraries, but still returns to campus to visit one or another of the libraries at least twice a week in his current role as a student/retiree.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is an annual competition for grants to support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarly or creative interests.
UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership for the coming year. Thank you if you’ve already renewed! If you haven’t, please renew right away.