Retired chancellor pledges estate gift to support Penn State Abington students
Chancellor Margo DelliCarpini, left, and former Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler.
Karen Wiley Sandler, retired Penn State Abington chancellor, has pledged an estate gift that will be split between the existing Karen Wiley Sandler Student Success Fund and the Penn State Abington College Endowment. Her gift will benefit students and the campus in perpetuity.
“Karen’s priority at Penn State Abington was student success, and for many students the biggest barrier to success is financial. I'm very grateful to Karen for her deep commitment to Penn State and her passion for Abington,” current Abington Chancellor Margo DelliCarpini said.
The Student Success Fund is a scholarship that was initiated during Sandler’s tenure as chancellor by senior leadership and the former chair of the Penn State Abington Advisory Board.
“It was designed to help middle-class students who might otherwise fall through the cracks of financial aid. It is merit-based with financial aid parameters. It's a passion of mine to help middle-class families who don’t qualify for financial aid,” Sandler, who led the campus from 1994 to 2016, said. “I don't want to see need get in the way of a good education. We must do everything we can to open the doors and make opportunities available.”
“I don't want to see need get in the way of a good education. We must do everything we can to open the doors and make opportunities available.” — Karen Wiley Sandler, retired chancellor, Penn State Abington
For many alumni and friends like Sandler, giving back to Abington is a meaningful way to remember the University and campus and leave a legacy through their estate plans. Those who choose to include Abington in their estate plans recognize not only the current needs of the campus, but also its future needs.
Estate gifts from a will or trust are one type of planned gift, in which a donor purposefully integrates a charitable gift into their overall financial, tax and estate planning. Other planned gifts include designating Penn State Abington as a beneficiary on a retirement plan or insurance policy. Planned gifts enable donors to make a positive financial difference for themselves and their families, while also leaving a legacy that benefits Penn State students for generations to come.
Individuals interested in learning about planned gift opportunities should visit Penn State's Office of Gift Planning website or contact Karen Weiss Jones, director of development, at [email protected].