Jim and Jayme Karen

“Miami gave me everything,” said Jim Karen ’76. He and his wife, Jayme ’76, decided to give back.

Jim and Jayme both attended Miami University, where they felt challenged and embraced the opportunity to learn, grow, and build up the confidence to move forward into the next stage of life. For Jim, that meant law school, where his Miami degree carried weight. He began to see how his experience at Miami shaped him professionally and personally, giving him the motivation to “get along, study, and be involved.” Jayme credits her years at Miami for her own professional success, as well.

Early on, they felt compelled to give back to Miami. However, as they had children and life became busier, their priorities shifted. It was only much later, when a development officer reached out and helped them see what they could accomplish through philanthropy, that they decided to provide lasting support by including a gift to Miami in their estate plans.

“It felt important to participate,” said Jayme, reflecting on their reasons for giving back to Miami. Jim came at the gift from a more pragmatic angle, as he had observed that leaving estate gifts was a common practice among other attorneys. Miami was the obvious choice for such a gift. But, Jim added, “It isn’t enough to give after death. Give in life, too.”

Their unrestricted gift provides Miami with the flexibility to allocate the funds where they are most needed, whether that’s for unexpected operational challenges, new academic initiatives, or student aid. And Jayme shared a message to students who may benefit from their gift: “You’re blessed to be here. Stay focused, because this experience will impact the rest of your lives.”