Thanks for supporting UMRA’s grant program
If you have made a financial contribution to UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program, thank you for your generous support. If you have not made a gift or would like to give again, it’s easy to make a tax-deductible contribution online.
Or, for information about making a tax-efficient gift from an IRA if you are age 70½ or older, email Lynn Praska, senior planned giving officer, U of M Foundation, or call her at 612-624-4158.
All U of M retirees are eligible to apply for grants
The PDGR program is an annual competition with applications accepted October 1 to December 31. It provides financial support for University retirees to continue scholarship or pursue new projects. Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available. All retirees from all five campuses within the U of M System are eligible.
Here's where you can learn more about the grant program, including the instructions for applying for 2023 funding. Please consider submitting an application.
If you have questions or suggestions, email John Bantle, M.D., PDGR Committee chair.
News
Then there are the unexpected things that happen…
… like a box of family history from a cousin that was completely unexpected. Perhaps it is like an unexpected DNA match.
Belonging to a group, a pack, a tribe, or a community helps us to live longer and be happier. Virtually every study that examines factors contributing to longevity identifies social connections as a key factor. Social connections enhance happiness, too, according to “Everything is Better Together,” a large-scale study published recently.
The University of Minnesota Medicare insurance program will end December 31. To facilitate this change, the University has arranged for Via Benefits to assist with insurance selection and enrollment. Working with Via is free and optional; retirees can also go to an insurance broker or contact insurance companies directly.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2026 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five campuses within the U of M System are eligible to apply. Previous grant recipient Mark Bohnhorst, JD, is “deeply grateful” for the support provided by the program for his ongoing research about the Electoral College.
The University Board of Regents launched its fall meetings with the addition of four new interim regents appointed in August by Governor Tim Walz. The new members fill positions vacated by regents whose six-year terms expired earlier this year.
Meet UMRA member and quizmaster Dave Dorman. He has years of professional experience as a group facilitator, hosting conversations conducted in a civil atmosphere—something we need more of today!
The retirees who serve on the Leadership Council of the University Retirees Volunteer Center clearly believe that volunteering contributes to both individual and community health and well-being. In the words of one long-time volunteer, it “counters the isolated, siloed forces in today's society and fosters a sense that we are all in this together.”
There are many benefits to membership in UMRA, including discounted ticket prices for University Opera Theatre performances at the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis.