Peter Racen, BSBA 1980, is transforming lives at the University of Missouri–St. Louis with his generosity.
Peter’s philanthropy at UMSL began shortly after his graduation and has continued for decades as he, along with his wife Linda, have supported areas from athletics to scholarships. Their most recent gift, a gift from their estate, will transform lives for years to come.
“My wife, Linda, and I made a gift to UMSL as part of our estate plan because of the impact my UMSL education has made in my life. It was our way of giving back in gratitude for the ways my education prepared me for my business career,” he shared. Peter and Linda’s act of generosity was their way of helping to ensure that UMSL can continue making a lasting impact in the lives and education of current and future students.
Beyond their generous donations to UMSL, Peter also volunteers his skills and knowledge as a financial planner serving as chair of UMSL Legacy Council. The Legacy Council provides educational programs and events to inform the community about the power of gift planning. Each member uses their time and talent to help make gifts like these less intimidating.
He explained, “as a financial planner, I’ve had the honor to help my clients understand how they can leverage their assets to leave a legacy for the organizations they care about the most. They also learn that their gift of any size can grow over time and benefit the organization.”
“Many people don’t realize that UMSL only receives a portion of its financial needs through tuition and state support. The rest comes from generous gifts from donors to meet the current and future needs of UMSL,” he continued.
He hopes, through his efforts, that all UMSL alumni will consider how they can give back and see how their gift can make an impact, not only for future generations of students but for themselves. “I would like others to know that by making a gift during their lifetime they will have the joy of seeing the impact their gift makes in the lives of students. I also would like to encourage them to get involved in organizations and events at UMSL to see the exciting things happening and hear the gratitude from current students about how UMSL is shaping their story,” he shared.