It was as a Penn State undergraduate that Sheldon Chaiken first acquired the passion for excellence that later defined his career in the financial services industry.

"I was content to go along and get along," he says. "But my Penn State professors inspired me to really push myself and see what I could achieve."

Now, as the retired senior vice president of Paine Webber, Sheldon is delighted to give back to his alma mater.

"It is deeply satisfying to know that I can make a difference for future generations of Penn State students, and it's simply the right thing to do-to give back to those who have given so much to
me," he says.

By remembering Penn State in his estate plans, Sheldon hopes to benefit the University and some of its most ambitious students for many years to come. Working closely with the Office of Gift Planning, he created a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) that will one day fund scholarships for students in the Schreyer Honors College.

"I found the CRUT to be a very effective estate planning device for myself, my heirs, and the University," he says.

His wife, Gail, perhaps best expresses the Penn State pride that drove Sheldon's professional success and motivated his philanthropy.

"If you could hear Sheldon talk about Penn State, you'd get chills down your spine," she says. "He is who he is because of Penn State, and he has a great love for the University."

If you're interested in learning more about CRUTs and how this type of gift could benefit you and the University, please contact The Office of Gift Planning at 888-800-9170 (toll free) or giftplanning@psu.edu.