For 18 years Peter O. Kohler, M.D., served as president of Oregon Health & Science University. His tenure – which formally ended with his retirement in September, 2006 – was marked by unprecedented growth for the institution on all fronts. Under his leadership OHSU has developed a reputation for service and innovation that is international in scope.
As he contemplated his retirement, Kohler says he began to consider how he might “do something more for the institution.”
“Thinking about Joe Robertson stepping in as the new president, I knew that it would be helpful for him to have access to a resource that would allow him to seize emerging opportunities and provide support where it’s needed most,” Kohler says.
These thoughts came together in the form of a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT), which Kohler established through the OHSU Foundation. A CRUT is one of many life income gifts that provide income to a donor, with the remainder going to charity – in this case OHSU – when the trust terminates.
“Although I couldn’t afford to make this kind of gift outright,” he says, “I hope that with good management of the trust portfolio it will grow to be more than I originally donated when the gift matures.”
Kohler has designated a portion of his gift to support a newly established fund for OHSU excellence named in his honor upon his retirement. This fund provides the type of unrestricted support that Kohler knows first-hand to be so vital to OHSU’s future presidents. Additionally, his gift will also benefit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Doernbecher has always been of great interest to me, as it is such an important part of what we do. And, I know there will always be a need there for support.”
The CRUT option is ideal for donors with goals similar to Kohler’s. It allows contributors to carry out their long-term philanthropic goals with maximum impact, while providing income for as long as they need it. It’s the type of sound financial planning one would expect from a man who led OHSU’s transformation into the regional economic powerhouse it is today. Kohler’s gift, like his service as president, will benefit OHSU and the region for years to come.
