Jim (ENGR ’59) and Peggy Degnan
Jim (ENGR ’59) and Peggy Degnan are enjoying their retirement. After 47 years of marriage and Jim’s many years as vice chair and CEO of the M.W. Kellogg Company, the couple is at a place in their lives where they want to give back. Jim and Peggy are involved in a number of charitable organizations in Pittsburgh and they believe philanthropy is a social responsibility.
As a member of the School of Engineering’s Campaign Steering Committee, Jim was enlightened to the needs of his alma mater and to some creative ways to address those needs. In conversations with a development officer, Jim and Peggy decided to establish the James and Margaret Degnan Scholarship to support undergraduate and graduate Engineering students. But their generosity didn’t end there.
After establishing the scholarship, Jim and Peggy started planning their legacy gift to the School. They learned about the charitable gift annuity option that provides an immediate quarterly annuity payment to them and will benefit their established scholarship later. The Degnans have since created two charitable gift annuities and are enjoying the benefits.
“It’s a comfort to know that our future is taken care of and that we are also caring for future generations of Pitt Engineering students, “says Jim. “We feel very good about this type of gift – it is the perfect way for us to have a secure future while giving back to a great school.”
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