Jeff and Holly Parker with their therapy dog, Bailey. Holly and Bailey volunteer with the Pet Away Worry and Stress (PAWS) program.
For Jeff and Holly Parker, the University of Minnesota isn’t just their alma mater — it’s a family tradition. From their own graduate school journeys to their son Jack’s “absolutely amazing” undergraduate education, the Parkers’ Gopher roots run deep.
“Having a student who had a great experience here was huge,” says Holly. “What better way to acknowledge that than to give back?”
Jeff considers his MBA program through the Carlson School of Management a formative experience and credits the University of Minnesota with helping him find his path in life.
Supporting the University of Minnesota is a family tradition for Jeff and Holly Parker and their kids, Jack and Allison.
“What the University gave me was the confidence to know I was going to have a career in an area that I loved,” he says. “I got a great education and got launched in a direction I didn’t have [when I started the program].”
Holly, who earned her master of social work degree from the University, found her own calling in community service. Her tenure on the Eden Prairie school board, combined with Jeff’s time as a high school math teacher during the final decade of his career, gave the couple a front-row seat to the hurdles facing today’s students.
“There were clearly students who needed help, financial and otherwise,” Jeff says. “That had an impact on us wanting to do something — to help give opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them.”
This shared vision motivated the couple to establish the Parker Family Scholarship to support undergraduate students who have financial need. To maximize their impact, the Parkers are strategic about how they give. They are strong proponents of donating complex assets such as appreciated stock and regularly take advantage of a donor-advised fund (DAF) to facilitate their philanthropy.
“We make one annual donation to our DAF and get one tax write-off,” Jeff explains. “From there, we can make donations to various charities, including the University. It simplifies life in a lot of ways.”
By utilizing a DAF and incorporating the University of Minnesota into their estate plans, the Parkers have ensured that their support remains a permanent campus fixture. For them, the goal is to provide a sense of security for students that transcends temporary programs or shifting policy.
“Programs, like forgiving student loans, can come and go,” Jeff says.
“In some small way we’ve created something that will always be there,” Holly adds. “There’s something nice about being part of a ‘forever gift’ — creating something that lives on.”