Beyond the satisfaction of helping young people to achieve life goals and helping a university to thrive, planned gifts such as charitable gift annuities give donors other benefits.

George Christy was a celebrated longtime professor of finance at the University of North Texas. In fact, UNT System Regent Robert Nickell established a $100,000 scholarship endowment through the Foundation to honor his former professor.

George and Ruth Christy established two charitable gift annuities with the Foundation. An annuity provides some tax advantages to the donor and a consistent income through their lives or the terms of the annuity. The remainder becomes a gift to the university.

George Christy passed away in December 2005 and his wife passed away in February 2006. They arranged for the remainder in their annuities to be used to establish the George A. and Ruth K. Christy Endowment Fund. The endowment supports the George and Ruth Christy Library Service Recognition Award.

George Christy was "a wonderfully positive influence on students and colleagues," said Foster Roden, UNT Regents professor of finance. "He was always ready to help, to stimulate you intellectually and to provide entertaining banter about sports, entertainment and politics. His legacy continues in the College of Business through his influence on current faculty and their students. UNT is better for having known George."

If you would like to contribute to the Library Service Recognition Endowment or ask questions about establishing an annuity with the UNT Foundation, please contact Roy Grisham, CPCU at 940-565-3686 or roy.grisham@unt.edu.