A Centennial Contribution

As Kathy and Mike Havel ’76 reflect on their lives, it’s impossible to imagine a world without Texas A&M University.  

A second-generation Aggie, Mike first set foot on campus at age 2 and can’t stay away from Aggieland for long. Though not a former student, Kathy bleeds maroon and recalls sharing in the excitement with Texas A&M-bound students during her career as a high school counselor.  

The Havels may have different Aggie stories, but they are united in the belief that a Texas A&M education can change lives. Today, their charitable giving stands as a testament to that. But long before they began giving of their time, talent and treasures, Aggieland was making its life-changing mark on them.

Forging Friendships and a Future

Mike’s connection to Aggieland began far before he was a Texas A&M student. He affectionately noted that his first Aggie memory occurred in the ’50s when his father, Alvin “Al” Havel ’57—who was prior military—completed his accounting degree. Mike shared that his extended family currently includes 10 Aggies who were directly influenced by his father’s decision to attend the university.

Though the son of an Aggie, Mike wasn’t always certain that life would bring him back to College Station. Originally, he applied for the United States Naval Academy, but after being selected as an alternate, he decided to attend his father’s alma mater and reapply to the academy the next year.“Then I went to Texas A&M and found the best friends of my life,” he shared. “I loved the culture, the excitement on campus and every tradition.”
 

Planning With Passion

In addition to giving their time to the university, the Havels generously give their treasure. They recently added to their giving by naming the Texas A&M Foundation as the beneficiary of their donor-advised fund (DAF) to support the newly established Centennial Class of 1976 Endowed Fund after their lives.

“We’ve been very blessed with friends, family and funds,” Mike said. “I have always believed that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’ and one way we honor this is by giving back to Texas A&M.”

The Havels created their DAF after hearing about its tax benefits. With each contribution to their fund, they receive an immediate charitable tax deduction. Currently, they use their DAF to make donations to their three philanthropic passions: the Texas A&M Foundation, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station and their home parish: All Saints Catholic Community.
 

When they were ready to include a planned gift for Aggieland, Kathy and Mike worked with the Foundation’s planned giving team to simply update their beneficiary form and name the Foundation to receive a portion of their DAF tax-free after their lifetimes. They emphasized that their planned gift was an ideal method for estate planning while allowing them to give to their passions. “We consider what’s meaningful to us and give in areas that have made a difference in our own lives,” Kathy said.

The Centennial Class of 1976 Endowed Fund was established in 2023 by the Class of 1976 Gift Committee. Through this collective endowed fund, any supporter of Texas A&M can make a meaningful contribution in celebration of 150 years of their beloved university.

The fund combines many of the Havels’ passion areas such as creating general student scholarships and assisting future Aggie educators with teaching certification costs. “Texas A&M students, especially future teachers, will help move our country forward,” Mike enthused. “I’m grateful our class has chosen to give in a way that will help these students overcome financial challenges so they can start making an impact immediately after graduation.”

Kathy and Mike are excited to support the fund as the sesquicentennial year approaches, and they encourage others to think through their estate planning and consider ways of giving to the Texas A&M Foundation, whether it be joining them in supporting the Centennial Class of 1976 Endowed Fund or other passion areas at the university. “Giving back to Texas A&M is what Aggies do,” Mike said, “and using estate assets is a very simple way to accomplish that.”

Interested in supporting one of your own passion areas through a planned gift? Learn more by contacting Amy Bacon ’91 at the bottom of this page. To join Kathy and Mike in supporting the Centennial Class of 1976 Endowed Fund, choose your desired donation amount below.