I am really very proud of our AASV Foundation (AASVF)! With the tremendous giving from many sources to reach our $2 million goal in 2019, we can fulfill the AASVF mission for our membership. This message is to thank and highlight the generous donors, review the Foundation’s giving programs and scholarships, and hopefully motivate and inspire continued philanthropy now and into the future within this great organization.
The mission of the AASVF is to empower swine veterinarians to achieve a higher level of personal and professional effectiveness by:
- enhancing the image of the swine veterinary profession,
- supporting the development and scholarship of students and veterinarians interested in the swine industry,
- addressing long-range issues of the profession,
- supporting faculty and promoting excellence in the teaching of swine health and production, and
- funding research with direct application to the profession.
To achieve this mission, AASVF funds are distributed as student scholarships and grants, swine veterinary debt relief scholarships, continuing education scholarships, swine research grants, and endowed lectures. The money distributed through the AASV Foundation in 2020 for swine student and veterinarian scholarships and research grants will total more than $196,000!
Research grants. For many years, the AASVF has awarded $60,000 each year in research grants for a wide range of topics important to swine veterinarians. There is a great demand for research funding and the Foundation wishes it could provide more. When I chaired this subcommittee in 2017, there were 17 proposed research projects requesting over $350,000 of funding. Each researcher is responsible for finishing the scientific research within the budget and time constraints agreed upon, with the trial results presented to the AASV membership via lectures, proceedings papers, and ultimately peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Swine Health and Production.
Thank you to the researchers who submit applications for funding and to the selection committee for selecting the awardees. A listing of past research award recipients can be found at www.aasv.org/foundation/research.htm.
Veterinary student scholarships. At our annual meeting, the AASV does an exemplary job of attracting about 130 veterinary students each year. The student oral and poster scientific presenters are the benefactors of approximately $45,000 in scholarships, and travel stipends thanks to the generosity of Zoetis, Elanco, United Animal Health, and the AASV Foundation.
Merck Animal Health will provide $50,000 in 2020 to enable the AASVF to award $5000 to each of 10 second- and third-year veterinary students to assist with their educational expenses.
The David Schoneweis Memorial Scholarship will award a $1000 scholarship to a Kansas State University or Oklahoma State University student participating in the AASV oral or poster presentations for the first time at our annual meeting in Atlanta.
Swine externship grants up to $500 are available to any student AASV member who completes a two-week externship at a swine practice to help defray the cost of the externship.
Swine veterinarian scholarships. The AASV Member Student Debt Relief Scholarship was established last year by the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment to annually award $5000 to a young swine veterinarian in private swine practice to offset a portion of his or her student debt. As we all know, this is another area of significant need for young veterinarians and an opportunity for the AASVF to give even more as additional funds are added to the Foundation coffers.
Since 2008, the Alex Hogg Memorial Scholarship of $10,000 has been available for worthy AASV candidates returning to graduate school. The award is given on an as needed basis, without any recipients some years and 3 scholarship recipients in 2018. Thanks to Mary Lou Hogg for this endowment.
American College of Welfare (ACAW) scholarship program. The Foundation feels strongly that financial help for Board Certified Animal Welfare Swine Veterinarians is important for our industry and the veterinary community overall. The AASVF will provide a reimbursement of up to $20,000 for travel, course fees, and textbook expense, with an additional $10,000 incentive to be paid upon completion of the ACAW Board Certification.
Endowed Lectures. Each year the Foundation sponsors and pays the honorarium for the Howard Dunne and Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture at the annual meeting.
Building the Foundation
Annual Foundation auction. The awards program and auction on Monday night are what make this organization special. Foundation fundraising through contributions and the silent and live auctions averaged over $104,000 each of the last 5 years. Thanks to Dr Butch Baker and the Auction Committee.
AASVF golf outing. The annual golf outing is also a valuable benefit for the Foundation. Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, and golfers.
Giving programs. There are three giving programs created for establishing endowments for the AASV Foundation:
- Leman Fellows have generously contributed $1000 to the Foundation. Currently there are over 165 Leman Fellows. Thank you!
- Heritage Fellows have contributed $5000 or more and received a walnut plaque and lapel pin in recognition of their commitment to the future of swine veterinary medicine. So far there are 65 AASV Foundation Heritage Fellows. Thank you!
- The AASV Foundation Legacy Fund provides an opportunity to recognize a principle donor, veterinary practice, or honoree through endowed contributions of $50,000 (or more). Since 2016, there have been 9 Legacy Funds created, achieving the highest level of the giving programs. Thank you!
Additionally, Phibro Animal Health has matched up to $25,000 in Foundation contributions each year for the past 4 years. Thank you Phibro!
All three giving programs are endowed, meaning the principle investment is conserved and only the interest, dividends, or capital gains are utilized for philanthropic distribution through the Foundation. Each dollar contributed is an important investment for our Foundation. Contributions can be made anytime via credit card or check to this 501(c)(3) charitable corporation and added toward your giving program. Donations are tax deductible in the United States.
Please consider some of these tax saving strategies and methods as you plan your future giving:
- Gift of stocks and other securities. Consider donating appreciated securities, such as publicly traded stock, bonds, or mutual funds to a qualified charity to help make your charitable dollars go farther. An appreciated security is an investment that has increased in value since its purchase. If you donate appreciated securities, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction for the full, fair market value of the securities and pay no capital gains tax on the transfer.
- Giving from an IRA. The IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution benefit has now been made permanent. In short, if you are above the age of 70 ½, you can make a contribution (up to $100k annually) transferred directly from your IRA account to a charity of your choice. Your gift would count toward your minimum required distribution and would not be considered taxable income for you.
If you are not ready to make an outright gift now but would like some of your property to pass to a charity after your lifetime, consider these options:
- Retirement Plans. Donating all or some of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA or 401(k), is a great way to make a charitable gift. Estate and income taxes can eat up a large portion of the money remaining in these tax deferred accounts. So, a retirement plan can be a tax-efficient and simple way of including a charity in your estate plan, simply name them on the plan’s beneficiary designation form.
- Bequest. A bequest is a gift of cash, securities, or other property made through your estate plan. You can make a bequest by including language in your will or trust leaving a portion of your estate to your favorite charity. You do not need to create a new will. Simply ask your attorney to prepare a codicil, a document that amends your original will.1
Consult with your professional advisor when considering any of these or other planning methods. Please contact the AASV Foundation Board or the AASV office for any help with legacy planning.
Why we give — inspirational messages from Legacy donors
“The mission of the AASV Foundation is the embodiment of what we want as members to be able to achieve. Contributing to the Foundation is key in continuing the building blocks that previous swine veterinarians so willfully gave to us.” – Dr Joe Connor, Joe and Callie Connor Legacy Fund.
“The AASV has been like family to me. Contributing to the Legacy Fund was my way of paying it ‘forward’.” – Dr Teddi Wolff, Theo Paula (Teddi) Wolff Legacy Fund.
“So many AASV members have helped me in my career path as I continue to learn and develop every day. I just wanted to give something back to help others in the organization.” – Dr Paul Yeske, Paul and Lori Yeske Legacy Fund.
“The organization keeps me educated and motivated. Its members are my mentors, colleagues, past and present dear friends, and our industry’s future. My wife and I are proud and privileged to be able to donate.” – Dr Nathan Winkelman, Nathan L. Winkelman Legacy Fund.
“The swine veterinary profession and US swine industry face many issues now and in the future. The AASV Foundation (and proceeds from this Practice Legacy Fund) will support finding long-term solutions to maintaining the US swine industry as the best in the world. We hope that the small role we play encourages other practices to support the AASV Foundation via a swine practice Legacy Fund.” – Dr Gordon Spronk, Pipestone Veterinary Services Practice Legacy Fund.
“Over the years, I have asked many AASV members to participate in the Leman and Heritage Fellows, and I’m a firm believer in the old adage to ‘put your money where your mouth is’. Veterinary medicine has been very good to me during my career…, and I considered creating a Legacy Fund as a worthy way of giving back.” – Dr KT Wright, Kenneth T. Wright Legacy Fund.
"I have stood on some 'wonderful shoulders' and have great veterinary friends! I am now required to show others how it is done. I am so graciously thankful to the AASV." - Dr Warren Wilson, Warren Wilson Family Legacy Fund.
Thank you all for supporting the AASVF. We truly are ensuring our future by creating a legacy.
Nathan Winkelman, DVM
AASV President
Reference
*1. Teblius M. Legacy gift planning. www.mvma.org/bimonthlynewsletter. Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. Published November 2019. Accessed November 15, 2019.
* Non-refereed reference.