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Women and Philanthropy
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Helen Price
The University of Kentucky has been a part of Helen Price’s life for the vast majority of her 88 years. The same is true for her late husband, Bruce. As a child, “the University was Bruce’s playground,” Helen said. His family moved to Lexington at age eight when his father, H. Bruce, Sr. became a professor of Markets and Rural Finance in the College of Agriculture.
Helen, one of ten children, said that her parents held a long–standing focus on education. Before moving to Lexington, her family lived in Boyle County, where her father and mother were passionately involved with Extension programs through the College of Agriculture. Eventually, Helen and six of her siblings would graduate from UK’s Agriculture school after having been active in the local 4H Club throughout their youth.
Bruce and Helen met at UK in their freshman year. Helen especially fondly recalls their experiences at formal dances, which were a special treat, she said, to someone with only seven in her high school graduating class.
All this set the stage for the Prices’ dedicated giving to UK. They decided years ago that giving to the University made great sense for them. “It just seemed like such a natural thing for us,” Helen said, referencing the couple’s history with UK.
The Prices first endowed a scholarship in Bruce’s father’s name, Helen said. After that, they examined other sorts of gifts. One that particularly stood out to them was the Charitable Gift Annuity.
This gift allows the donors to first give cash or securities to the University, and then to receive fixed structured payments from that gift for the remainder of their lives. At contract’s end, the principal is transferred to the University permanently.
One of Helen’s strongest motivations in choosing this gift was its security, which she feels is especially important for donors who wish to give large amounts. Because UK is handling the donated money and its distribution back to her, she is confident in receiving her payments. As other investments may hold more risk, the Charitable Gift Annuity proved a good choice for the Prices. Helen also emphasized how the gift helps her now.
“This gives me income that I can use for the rest of my life. I can also be certain that UK gets the money Bruce and I intended.” Additionally, she would recommend this gift to donors in a similar situation to hers and Bruce’s.
“It’s a wise investment and a good way to give back to UK,” she said.