A History of Support for DMACC
Longtime Board Member Establishes a Planned Gift to Student Scholarship Endowment
Mike Grandgeorge
A banker for most of his life, Mike Grandgeorge was relatively new to Ankeny, Iowa, when he began looking for an opportunity to serve the community. A co-worker of his, Eldon Leonard, suggested he consider serving Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Eldon had been a trustee at DMACC, supported the DMACC Foundation, and was someone Mike looked up to. Mike took Eldon’s advice and inquired about serving on the DMACC Foundation Board.
That was 31 years ago, and Mike’s service to the students, faculty, and staff of DMACC as a member of the Foundation Board continues today—meaning Mike has served the Foundation for more than 60% of its 50 years.
He says it has been his pleasure.
“In my 31 years, I have been able to see the Foundation grow to the numbers we are at right now, providing more than $2 million in scholarship support in the coming year,” Mike says. “We have pushed hard over the years to ensure we can give more and more. DMACC fills an important niche in this community and in the state. The more students we can serve, the more lives we can change.”
In addition to his service to the board, Mike is also a supporter of the DMACC Foundation, including the establishment of a planned gift.
“In our will, we came up with a defined amount we wanted to give,” Mike says. He and his wife, Katy, designated their funds to a general scholarship endowment. “That is a set amount now, but our hope is that eventually, we will be able to add a zero to the end of the number.” He adds that he hopes more people will consider making a planned gift by including the DMACC Foundation in their will. Mike says that a gift to the College has the potential to establish a legacy that helps generations of students over the years.
“I wish more people would plan for the future in a way that includes a gift to a great community asset like DMACC,” Mike says. “When the gift is left in the will or through a life insurance policy, it is painless to you but meaningful to the College and its students. With just a little bit of estate planning, you can help so many students as they begin their career path.”