MSOE Regent Dr. Jack Blank has a long and well-established relationship with MSOE. “I came to Milwaukee in 1972 and I was introduced to MSOE by then-president Dr. Spitzer soon after,” remembers Blank. “I came to MSOE a number of times with practical business problems that I needed help solving. MSOE faculty members were always willing to sit down and work out ways to approach problems using MSOE students and faculty along with my company’s experts.”
Blank, now the retired president of The Falk Corp., was impressed with the quality of MSOE students and graduates, many of whom went on to work full time at Falk. “One of the first things that caught my attention was when I heard MSOE engineering graduates weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. As a person who grew up in a sand-and-grease environment, I knew that meant they were learning the practical application of whatever field they studied,” said Blank.
For Blank, who has served on the Board of Regents since 1983 and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 1990, establishing a planned gift was a logical extension of his involvement with the university. “My wife and I have set up a separate IRA for charitable gifts, and MSOE is included in that. I just feel good knowing that some of our assets will be directed towards helping individuals complete their education at MSOE.”
“I like to think of your education as the most important gift you will ever receive,” said Blank, “and I wish I thought that way 65 years ago when I was pursing my own degree. No one person, organization or political authority can ever take it away from you. The gift is open for all, but the value of that gift depends upon the recipient and on how hard he or she works. I like to be on the giving end of it. I like to know that someone can take advantage of it to enhance the value of their education.”