Unrestricted Gift to Give Future Panthers the Advantage
Paul and Barbara Schimbke '70
Barbara and Paul Schimbke have designated a generous unrestricted bequest to the UWM Foundation as their way of saying thank you to one of the institutions that contributed to their successful careers. Barbara is a 1970 alumna of UWM’s School of Education and taught history at Milwaukee’s Madison University High School for 33 years. Paul first attended UWM, then received his engineering degree from UW-Madison, and later returned to take classes at the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
“We wanted to repay UWM,” said Barbara. “We feel that if you have benefited from an education, it is important to help others receive the educational advantages that you were fortunate enough to be given.”
The Schimbkes, who are now retired and living in Naples, Florida, have been thinking philanthropically for a number of years, contributing to medical charities in response to cancer and heart disease in their families. Then, when they created their first will over 10 years ago, they included a donation to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
“Since we have no children, we decided early on to include charitable giving in our estate plans,” said Paul. In 2007, Barbara and Paul contacted UWM to inquire how to include the University in their wills. They worked with the Office for Development & Alumni Relations to finalize an agreement with the UWM Foundation to ensure that their unrestricted gift will be used according to their wishes.
“An unrestricted endowment allows the University the greatest flexibility in making use of our donation and we feel it will be the most effective application of our contribution,” said Paul.
The University is grateful to Barbara and Paul for their generous commitment in helping to build a strong future for UWM. For more information about how to leave a bequest to the UWM Foundation, please contact one of our Directors of Major and Planned Giving.