A Gift Steeped in Joy

If you mention Patty Freedson, emerita kinesiology professor, you are likely to hear a string of accolades: a pioneer in kinesiology, winner of millions of dollars in research funding, founder of the Physical Activity and Health Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation, author of more than 160 research papers, popular teacher and mentor—the list goes on.

Now add one more: a force for sustaining scholarship at UMass Amherst. Her six-figure bequest to the Patty Freedson Undergraduate Health and Wellness Scholarship will transform the educational experience for countless students in the future.

"I've seen and heard lots of stories about students' financial difficulties in trying to meet their educational expenses," says Patty, who retired in 2016 after 35 years at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences.

Patty has two primary motivations for making the planned gift.

1. Supporting philanthropic endeavors is a family tradition. "Giving back is in my DNA. It just seemed like the right thing to do," she says.
2. "The joy I had mentoring students and watching them grow into extraordinary people."

As a planner, Patty says she prefers to make decisions sooner rather than later. In this case, her decision was easy. "I loved my job here so much, I couldn't believe I was getting paid to do this," she says. "I wanted to give back."

And for those who are contemplating a planned gift, Patty has some advice: "Think about the things in your life that made you happy and brought you satisfaction. Think about giving back to something that brought you so much joy and happiness."

Has UMass Amherst brought you joy and happiness? Join Patty in making UMass Amherst a part of your legacy. Contact Joseph K. Jayne ’21MPP at giftplanning@uma-foundation.org or 413-577-1418 to get started.