b'TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESTo whom much is given, much isworking directly with former Texas expected.A&MVicePresidentforStudent Affairs Dr. John J. Koldus III. After ThisisthecredothatSharonblowingthroughherentirefirst Almaguer 84 lives by, especiallysemestersallowance,Almaguer when giving back to Texas A&Mquickly applied to work as a student University.assistant for Koldus and was hired. He gave her the chance to work on She credits the unique opportuni- significantcampusprojects,such ties she received to her alma mater,as developing and overseeing a new while her successful legal practiceaccessibility plan for handicapped in McAllen, Texas, afforded her thestudents.opportunity to pay it forward in a planned gift to the Texas A&MHe supported and motivated stu-University Libraries. dents to be involved and seize lead-LEAVING AI want to give to all Aggies, and theershipopportunities,Almaguer said.HelovedTexasA&M,and purpose of the libraries is to servestudents loved him. STORYBOOKthe Aggie community, AlmaguerShe hopes this gift reflects her love of said.Asastudent,thelibraries became a haven for me. If anyonethe Aggie community and inspires LEGACY needed to find me, they knew toothers to give back to the university look there. that has given her so much. It is important to leave Texas A&M bet-In2016,AlmaguerusedanIRAter than we found it and establish a BY ALYSSA JOHNSON 20 to plan an unrestricted gift for thelegacy for future generations.University Libraries to be used at the deans discretion. As an estate attorney, she knew committing an IRA gift presented special benefits for her and Texas A&M. In order to prevent the charitable beneficiary from becoming entan-gled with the complexities of a will, it is advantageous to leave a directIN THEIR WORDSgift so charities can easily receive the funds, Almaguer explained. "It is important to leave HercareerhasalsoopenedherTexas A&M better than eyes to how others perceive char-itable giving. There are miscon- we found it and establish ceptions that giving is only feasiblea legacy for future for those who can afford a signifi-cant amount, she said. IRA des- generations."ignations make it possible to give despite ones financial capability. Sharon Almaguer 84Almaguerscommitmenttolead by example and help fellow Aggies stems from her undergraduate days 18 | TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION|OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING'