Charitable Remainder Unitrust Gift story

It has been nearly three decades since Nobu Tanaka earned his doctorate degree from SIU. His memories, however, remain vivid and continue to inspire him.

The Tokyo native's interest in classical music dates back to his childhood years. While the music enthusiast completed his studies in chemistry, he is thankful for an all-around enjoyable college experience.

"My life at SIU was fulfilling as a community member in the School of Music. I was the principal timpanist of the SIU Symphony for seven years under the direction of Robert Bergt, Daniel Mellado and Michael Barta," says Tanaka, who points out that his late wife, Asako, played the violin in the Symphony, too. "I had the pleasure of being mentored by Dr. James Cox, a wonderful professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

"It was a wonderful life at SIU."

The 1985 chemistry alumnus is supporting the University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Music by establishing a charitable remainder unitrust with the SIU Foundation. This option allows donors to transfer cash or appreciated property to fund a charitable trust. The trust sells the property tax free and provides donors with an income stream.

Donors benefit from an income for life, lives or a term of years, avoid capital gains on the sale of appreciated assets, receive a federal charitable income tax deduction for the remainder portion of the gift to Southern Illinois University Foundation, all while providing a future legacy gift that benefits programs at SIU.

When Life Technologies - a biotechnology company with operations in multiple countries that Tanaka has served in various capacities since 1985 – was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific recently, the San Mateo, Calif., resident decided to give back to SIU with the shares he had accumulated through the company's stock purchase program.

The company was initially established in 1981 as a start-up entity for developing, manufacturing and selling/service-providing on research tools in the field of life science/biotechnology research activities. Tanaka points out that during his 28-year tenure, which began four years later, the company has grown from 300 to 50,000 employees, and increased its annual revenue from $30 million to $17 billion during his 28-year tenure. It has also experienced multiple mergers and splits.

"I have worked for the same employer since 1985, but the company has experienced a number of changes," the SIU Alumni Association life member says. "This contribution had to be completed before the cash merger. My accountant recommended a charitable remainder unitrust. It afforded me an opportunity to support my school in Carbondale."

Tanaka, who received his bachelor's degree in Japan, worked for Dow Chemical Japan prior to attending SIU. The university's Center for English as a Second Language Program initially brought him to the United States.

"I am fortunate to have enjoyed a challenging, exciting, and wonderful professional and personal life with a lot of opportunities. And this truly happened because Asako and I lived in Carbondale when we were in our late 20s and early 30s in age," Tanaka says. "I wanted to express my appreciation to SIU, and I want my fellow alumni to seriously consider making a similar gift arrangement in support of the University."

For more information on how you might make a gift to the SIU Foundation through the charitable remainder unitrust or other planned gift options, please e-mail: [email protected], or call Pamela Rathe, Director of Gift Planning, at (618) 453-4907.