Years ago my mother asked for donations to the scholarship she had created at the Wayne State University School of Social Work in lieu of birthday and Christmas gifts. While serving on the school’s Board of Visitors and chairing its development committee, she was inspired to establish a scholarship to honor her family’s connection to Wayne State University, which includes four generations of women and dates from the 1880s.

My mother received scholarships and grants from Wayne State and considered it an honor to pay that gift forward to those in need of assistance, as she once was. She was a single parent to six young children when she earned her M.S.W., and the career it afforded her as a school social worker literally saved us.

In that spirit, I decided to include Wayne State in my estate plan, gifting some of my retirement assets, to enhance my mother’s scholarship. This allows my family to give back and strengthens our connection to the university, school and profession that gave us so much.

I owe much of my success to what was provided for me by my family. But my family owes its self-sufficiency to Wayne State University. And their degrees led to decades-long careers with Detroit Public Schools, which benefited us all.

I want my gift to have a positive ripple effect, originating with scholarship recipients and extending to all of those who benefit from their good works.

Education transformed my life, and giving back is the least I can do.

To learn more about ways you can strengthen your connection to Wayne State, like Frank has, contact the Office of Planned Giving at PlannedGifts@wayne.edu or (313) 577-6481.