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Donor Stories

Dr. Bill Flatt

Dr. Bill Flatt

It's no secret in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences that Bill Flatt loves life. It's also no secret how much he loves living life through FACS.

After 25 years of being an administrator as a former department head, director of Agriculture Experiment Stations and dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Flatt had the opportunity to join College of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1994 to teach in foods and nutrition and conduct energy metabolism research.

Though he is now retired, Dr. Flatt still serves as a guest lecturer, filling the halls of College of Family and Consumer Sciences with his smiling face and positive attitude. In fact, Dr. Flatt is so fond of College of Family and Consumer Sciences that he has frequently put his money where his heart is by providing multiple gifts to the College, including the endowment of two student scholarships and three student financial awards.

"As an undergraduate, I received 12 scholarships that made it possible for me to go to college," Dr. Flatt said. "That's one reason I feel fortunate to be able to 'give back' to help other students achieve their goals to obtain a higher education."

Though he was already contributing to FACS, Dr. Flatt wanted to leave a gift to the College that would keep giving beyond his lifetime. As a reflection of his devotion to FACS, he designated his UGA 403b retirement funds for a Bill and June Flatt Professorship in the foods and nutrition department.

Dr. Flatt began putting money in a 403b over 25 years ago when he signed up for payroll withdrawal for this extra retirement fund. By naming College of Family and Consumer Sciences as the remainder beneficiary of his 403b, his estate will avoid state and capital gains taxes on the fund.

"It's investing in the future and in young people who will have a major impact on the future. I want to help foster that," Dr. Flatt said. "I reviewed my own benefits and realized my family and I are set for the rest of my life. So, I began to think about how I could help others and I realized a planned gift is an easy way to contribute to my favorite cause, which is FACS. It will only help to strengthen the programs that I feel are so important."

Lisa Gipson

Lisa Gipson

BSFCS '95, Consumer Journalism
Manager, Operator Learning & Development , Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Why do I support the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with an annual fund gift? It's about the opportunity.

For me, giving back helps partner with the Dean, Faculty and Staff to provide opportunities for current student leaders to learn and grow. I have personally benefited from learning experiences, opportunities to serve, and the relationships built through my collegiate and alumni years. It's important for me to be involved in many ways as an alum, and I am hopeful that my gifts will grow over the years. For now, more importantly, I understand the significance in giving on a consistent basis. Collectively, we can help create meaningful learning experiences and opportunities for current students to learn and grow and develop knowledge for real life application.

Hon. Kathy Palmer

Hon. Kathy Palmer

BSHE 1976; JD 1979, Majors: Family Development; Law
Chief Superior Court Judge, Middle Judicial Circuit

During my lifetime, my family and I have believed in, invested in and benefited from the purposes and goals of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Those same purposes and goals extend beyond each of our individual lives for the good of all. I want my support to continue even in death so the College of Family and Consumer Sciences philosophy continues as well. I cannot think of a better testament to the program that has helped me achieve a fulfilling and successful life than by a gift at my death. A specific bequest made in my will fits my current financial situation best.

Odom Family

Odom Family

Wayne and Sabrina Odom and their daughter Ivy, BSFCS ’15, Recipe Tester/Developer, Meredith Food Studios

Wayne and Sabrina Odom established the Ivy Odom Endowment for Student Leadership to provide support for student leadership activities at the college, with a preference for the FACS Ambassadors and their mission to “represent our fellow students, facilitate relationships and impact Athens and the UGA community through intentional service.”

Their daughter Ivy received three FACS undergraduate academic scholarships and benefited from a number of other donor funds throughout her time at FACS. As a FACS Ambassador, Ivy attended the FACS Leadership Retreat for three years, where, she said, “ we learned just how important private giving is to the college.”

“While every single one of these scholarships and donations helped make my four years at the University of Georgia possible, the one scholarship that impacted me the most was the last one I received as a student. Julia Ann Simpson Elliott was a graduate of the College of Home Economics. She loved the college and she loved the Dawgs.

As an only child of a farmer from my hometown of Moultrie, she was raised to be strong and independent, much like my parents raised me to be. Mrs. Julia Ann passed away before she was able to see me become the first recipient of the scholarship given in her memory by her family, but I like to think if she could have been there that day, she would have been extremely proud.

When I asked my parents why they wanted to give, and why they wanted to do it now, they both immediately responded with the same answer. “FACS turned you into the person you are today. We loved watching you grow there and benefit from donors like the Elliott family, and we can’t wait to be able to do the same for countless other students in the future.”

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