What Priscilla Hillman O’Brien ’60 remembers most fondly about her student experience at SUNY Potsdam was its simplicity. At the time, the College had four buildings, a handful of degree paths and cold winters that reminded her of her hometown near Buffalo.
“My interest in Potsdam was sparked when a friend in high school mentioned that she was going to Potsdam. After doing some research on location and curriculum, I made my decision. It would be Potsdam for me,” O’Brien shared.
Post-graduation, O’Brien returned to the Buffalo area, where she met her husband (Richard O’Brien) and began her teaching career in the Kenmore School District, where she attended as a child.
“I started in September of 1960 and retired in June of 1993,” O’Brien said. “It was 33 years, and it was always Hoover Elementary School.”
O’Brien’s dedication to her school district is mirrored in her commitment to SUNY Potsdam. She has contributed annual gifts to support the Literacy Center and the College’s Greatest Needs for over fifteen years. After her husband set up a charitable gift annuity to benefit his alma mater, she decided to do the same for hers.
“We realize that many people wait until their passing, and then allow their Last Will and Testament to pass along some of their assets to worthy causes,” O’Brien shared. “We felt that we would like to accelerate that process and become more directly involved with our charitable giving.”
When establishing her charitable gift annuity through the Potsdam College Foundation, O’Brien appreciated the personal touch she received.
“What I especially liked was the connection between talking to the people on the phone that are actually part of the same system and part of Potsdam, not outside people that are hired to do that part of it,” O’Brien shared, recalling conversations with College Advancement staff members Jason Ladouceur ’94 and Peter Cutler ’99 about their own student experiences.
O’Brien is glad that she came to Potsdam all those years ago and gladder still that she can support the community that helped establish her path as an educator.
“As we entered our 80s, my husband Dick and I have reflected back on the advantages and blessings that we have enjoyed. High on that list is the very solid foundation on which our lifelong years of learning began during our college years,” O’Brien explained. “Now, we would like to help the current generation of students receive some of the same educational benefits that we have enjoyed.”
Key Facts on SUNY Potsdam Charitable Gift Annuities
- A contract between the donor(s) and the Potsdam College Foundation
- Income payments are guaranteed for life
- Income for 1 or 2 lives
- Minimum initial gift to fund the annuity is $10,000
- Cash or publicly-traded securities most often fund the annuity
- You may be eligible for an income tax charitable deduction
- You may designate the residuum from the annuity for any purpose at SUNY Potsdam
We can prepare charitable gift annuity financial projections for your review. Contact the Raymond Legacy Society for help and further information.