Grainger Engineering alumni Carolyn and Gino Primus have chosen to leave a planned gift to support scholarships through a charitable gift annuity (CGA) established at the University of Illinois Foundation. This unique vehicle allows you to make a gift and in exchange receive a fixed annual dollar amount for life. The principal remaining at your death will then benefit any U of I Foundation program that you choose.
Learn More About why Carolyn Decided to Give:
Why did you choose to support The Grainger College of Engineering?
Illinois gave me the tools I needed to excel. Due to the broad impact that materials science engineering has on the world, I have been able to work in the field of material sciences for government labs and then for corporations making consumer products and dental materials. We felt that it was time to help others.
Why did you choose to give through a charitable gift annuity?
We wanted to do some good for future engineers through The Grainger College of Engineering. A CGA allowed us to help provide for others’ engineering education.
Why did you choose to support scholarships?
[My scholarship support] made all the difference to get through school. My father had retired and supporting a woman’s education was “iffy”. I worked in the engineering library, took a heavy class load, used my academic success to get summer jobs at national labs and was able to finish in three years on
campus with some scholarship support.
What impact do you hope your planned gift will make at The Grainger College of Engineering?
I grew up in a segregated part of Chicago. I saw bright kids that didn’t get the opportunities that I did for college. We wanted to contribute to change that. [Our gift] contributes to the common goal of Grainger Engineering providing the best opportunities and training for students.