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Educating Public Health Students Today And Long Into The Future

Mike Smeltzer, '70

Mike SmeltzerEven though Mike grew up on the West coast, once he came to Columbus, he became a Buckeye for life. During his Ohio State education and career in public health, Mike learned the importance of a solid educational foundation. Today, he is dedicated to supporting the next generation of public health professionals.

Mike's career in public health started in microbiology because of a Petri dish. While attending Ohio State, Mike's roommate came home with several Petri dishes from one of his classes. Mike was fascinated by the colonies in the dishes and decided to pursue a major in microbiology.

"I became familiar with public health during my first job working in a lab at the Ohio Department of Health," he said. "I witnessed the impact of their efforts and how everyone worked together to accomplish their goals. I knew pursuing a career in public health was the best fit for me."

Upon earning his degree in public health from University of North Carolina, Mike returned to Columbus and began working for the Columbus Public Health Department. He worked in a diverse group of areas throughout his career, including AIDS response, violence prevention, injury prevention and much more. He retired four years ago as the Director of the Division of Planning and Peak Performance, responsible for earning national accreditation for the department.

Mike continues to make an impact on the community through his volunteer work and mission trips around the globe. He has traveled to places such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Russia and Bolivia to help build schools, churches and health clinics.

Mike is committed to supporting graduate students in the College of Public Health. His scholarship gifts will help create a link for students to the community of public health professionals at an earlier point in their education so that they can get a head start on their careers.

"I hope my gift will make a difference in a student's ability to successfully complete a program in public health who in-turn will make the world a better place for the communities they serve," said Mike.

Using the IRA charitable rollover, Mike is able to support scholarships today while also enjoying significant tax benefits. He will be able to sustain the scholarship support for future students through a gift from his estate plan.

"It is beyond gratifying to know that I am helping someone pursue their dreams," he said. "I urge everyone to support an area that they're connected to and matters to them. There are so many giving options to consider and the university makes the whole process simple to understand."

You, like Mike, can help Ohio State students pursue their dreams. Contact the Office of Estate and Gift Planning at 614-292-2183 or giftplan@osu.edu to learn how.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to The Ohio State University Foundation a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to The Ohio State University Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201, or its successor thereto, ______________ [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Ohio State or other charities.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Ohio State as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Ohio State as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Ohio State where you agree to make a gift to Ohio State and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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