University of Michigan

Planned Giving is Philanthropy for the Whole Family

Amy and Eric Mueller’s Story

Why do people give to Michigan? For Amy (BSN ’68) and Eric (BSEEE ’65) Mueller, it’s a tale of two families: their family and the Michigan family. Through a charitable remainder trust (CRT) that benefits the School of Nursing and the College of Engineering, the couple found a way to honor both.

Even at a university famous for inspiring intergenerational loyalty, Amy and Eric’s family history stands out. Amy’s paternal grandfather, her father and five of her aunts and uncles all graduated from Michigan. Her paternal grandparents, Harry and Amy Comins, were major donors to U-M Flint during the 1950s. Amy herself met Eric while she was studying at the School of Nursing and he was following in his father’s footsteps at the College of Engineering. The true-blue couple raised two daughters, Karen (an MSU grad) and Erica Jill (BS ’00). And Jill brought still one more Wolverine into the fold when she married Sean (AB ’01) Roberts.

With a family history like this one, it’s no wonder Amy and Eric felt a sense of loyalty to Michigan. For two decades they supported their favorite University causes virtually every year. But they wanted to do more. “So when someone mentioned the CRT idea, I looked at my husband and said ‘That’s it!,’” Amy says. “‘This will allow us to make a bigger donation than what we could have done otherwise.’”

“Our donation to Michigan is our way of giving back, in gratitude for the education that allowed us both to have successful careers,” says Eric, “as well as a means of recognizing and honoring the memory of our families’ U-M legacy. The U-M Development Office really made the donation process clear and easy.”

Eric and Amy Mueller