| by Jennifer Donovan, director of public relations
Marty Richardson, chair of the Board of Control, and
her husband, Jerry Richardson, have made a planned gift
of $1 million to Michigan Tech's Board of Control
Endowment Fund. The endowment produces income to fund
special projects as recommended by the president to the
Board of Control.
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of the Michigan Tech
tradition, Richardson explained. Alumni, Board members
and friends who give their time and money keep Michigan
Tech strong for future generations. "Once our loved ones
are taken care of, we couldn't think of a better place
to invest part of our estate than Michigan Tech," she
said. "The return on this investment, when we are gone,
establishes a very positive legacy of 'creating the
future' beyond our lifetimes. What could be more
fulfilling than that?"
The Board of Control Endowment Fund succeeds the
Board of Control Scholarship Fund, which helped many
alumni attend Michigan Tech, such as Dave House, chair
of the current Generations of Discovery Campaign. The
new fund was established at Marty Richardson's
suggestion.
"Marty and Jerry have shown remarkable leadership
with their giving” said Shea McGrew, vice president of
advancement and president of the Michigan Tech Fund.
"Marty was the initiator of the Board of Control
Endowment Fund and has encouraged Board of Control
members and others to contribute to it. As board chair,
she sets a fine example for all Michigan Tech
volunteers."
Richardson is the retired president of Services
Marketing Specialists, a consulting firm established in
1989 to provide full-service marketing and
communications support to professional service firms and
business-to-business organizations. She worked in
marketing, communications and business management for
more than 30 years.
In 2005, former Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed
her to the Michigan Tech Board of Control, and the Board
elected her chair in 2010. She has also served on the
boards of the Greater Detroit Chapter for the National
Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the
Corporate Economic Council of the NAWBO. Crain’s Detroit
Business named her one of Detroit's 100 most influential
business women.
Her husband, Jerry Richardson, was born and raised in
Birmingham and graduated from Michigan State University
with a BS in Engineering, followed by an MBA in
Materials and Operations Management. He worked for
General Motors for 30 years, in purchasing, plant
operations, strategic planning and product engineering.
Since retiring, the Richardsons are living on their
trawler, Monarch.
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