News and Notes: Spring 2021

Give to the Max Day 2020 Sets New Records

More than 300 alumni and friends of the Carlson School made gifts totaling more than $450,000 on the most recent Give to the Max Day in November 2020. The fundraising success unlocked $25,000 in matching gifts from the Alumni Board, and an additional $5,000 was triggered by reaching the donor participation goal, which represented an increase of more than fifty percent from the previous year. Additionally, gifts at the Investors Circle recognition level more than doubled from past years.

“The Alumni Board was blown away by the incredible response we received to support the Carlson School on Give to the Max Day,” says Craig Schmidt (’03, BSB), chair of the Alumni Board. “We’re both grateful and proud that so many fellow alumni and friends have come together to ensure that the school continues to provide a top-notch education for the next generation.
 

Tax Benefit for Charitable Gifts Extended

Making annual gifts to the Carlson School will continue to save you money on your taxes in 2021, due to action taken by Congress late last year. The second COVID-19 stimulus package enacted in the final days of 2020 extended a provision allowing taxpayers that do not itemize their deductions to continue to benefit from making charitable gifts. 

The tax law allows a deduction of up to $300 of a taxpayer’s charitable contributions or $600 for married couples filing joint returns. Qualifying gifts must be made in cash or cash equivalents. Additional tax law changes were made to incentivize charitable giving for taxpayers that do itemize deductions. Those taxpayers are encouraged to contact their tax professional for more information.

Please consult with your professional advisor about how these or other changes in the CARES Act may affect you. Learn more by visiting our website at z.umn.edu/cares21
 

75th Anniversary CHRLS Social Justice Fund Announced

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies (CHRLS), a new fund has been established that will recognize and support social justice work within CHRLS. John Budd, Industrial Relations Land Grant Chair and professor in the Department of Work and Organizations, and his wife, Gwen, have made a lead gift toward this fund, and many alumni, faculty, and friends of the program have joined in.

“This Fund celebrates the social justice contributions of CHRLS faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” Budd says. “But knowing there is much more to be done, I hope this fund also symbolically reminds us of the importance of social justice into the future, while also concretely providing funds for student fellowships and other initiatives.”
 

New Board Members

The Carlson School community benefits from the many contributions of dedicated volunteers who share their expertise and experience with the school. We are excited to welcome these alumni who are new members of the Carlson School Alumni Board and Gophers of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board:

Alumni Board

• Kristine Boedigheimer, ’99 BSB, ’07 MBA
• Adam Krasnoff, ’93 BSB
• Shannon Peloquin, ’06 BSB
• Brett Stier, ’07 BSB
• Jenny Wade, ’11 MBA
• Cherise Salim, ’10 MBA
• Ryan Petz, ’10 MBA
• Vanessa Longnecker, ’01 BSB

Gold Board

• Martin Caride, ’15 BSB
• Mark Foley, ’16 BSB
• Steven Kibaya, ’19 MBA
• Alex Kurth, ’14 BSB
• Simran Mishra, ’19 BSB
• Shayla Owodunni, ’12 BSB
• Bailey Plath, ’18 BSB
• Scott Rubsam, ’17 BSB
• Katie Lusty, ’14 BSB
• Natalia Velenchenko, ’18 BSB