Adopting a Medical Center: The Value of Charitable Gift Annuities

If you haven't heard Mike Bundy's life story, invite him out for coffee sometime. You're in for a treat. 

Mike spent his childhood in Eau Claire and later graduated from Shattuck School (now Shattuck- St. Mary's) in Faribault, Minn. He attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he was a Classics major studying Latin and Greek language and culture. He also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society. 

He spent a year in France as a Fulbright scholar and was later stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, which again afforded him opportunities to return to France on occasion. 

After being invited back to Kenyon to teach in its Classics Department for a year, Mike migrated to New York City, getting a master's of arts degree from Columbia University and teaching Latin and Greek at Trinity School, a college preparatory school. He then spent 18 years as head of the Classics Department at The Chapin School, a prestigious girls' school in Manhattan's upper east side. 

And now, he's back in Eau Claire. 

"It was a hard decision to leave New York after I retired since I'd been there for 35 years," says Mike. "But I go back to New York every year, take in the opera and ballet, and see all my friends." In Eau Claire, he's rekindled friendships with people he grew up with, too. 

In the last few years, Mike sold his childhood home, a large, four-story house built in the 1920s. He had already named his beneficiaries in his will, but realized that the money was available now.

"Since I don't have kids, I've adopted the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, Shattuck- St. Mary's, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Luther Midelfort (twice) and others," says Mike. "I had the capital, and I wasn't using it, so I thought, 'Why not give it away now?'"

Mike "adopted" these organizations using charitable gift annotates, which guarantee his investment and provided an income as long as Mike is living. 

And how does Luther Midelfort - Mayo Health System fit on the same list as the opera and ballet? "These are all institutions that are close to me, that I've gotten to know and respect," Mike says. "They all represent milestones in my life, and I want to recognize them." 

Mike's connection to Luther Midelfort is probably the one that goes farthest back. "The Midelfort Clinic has always been a big part of my life," he says. "The doctors who founded the Clinic were all friends of our family as I was growing up. If I ever had a sore throat, one of them would stop by the house to examine, medicate and dispense TLC. They were like family."

These were the days before the clinic and hospital were one institution, but Mike's family also had connection to Luther Hospital. "My dad and grandfather were both on the board of trustees of the hospital, and my mother was a volunteer for years and years over there," he says. 

And although Mike's parents both received care at Luther Midelfort over the years, Mike has been fortunate. "Luckily, I've never spent a day in the hospital," he says. "But I know that Luther Midelfort is greatly respected nationwide, and I feel very lucky to be here when I do need the care that they can offer. Then, of course, their connection with Mayo Clinic cements the whole thing." 

Mike's decision to support Luther Midelfort with a charitable gift annuity was an easy one for him. "All of these organizations were in my will as part of my estate when I died," he said. "With the annuities, they're still getting the funds I'd designated, it's guaranteed, and I get an income from it as well. As a practical matter, it's worked out very well."