Gary Bower ’72: Former teacher says his giving is a win-win

for talented students of all backgrounds is vital. Special initiatives for firstgeneration students, students with the greatest financial need, and women scholars are all high on our list. Scholarship support can be both an annual commitment or an endowed scholarship that will provide support in perpetuity to deserving students.

Our beautiful campus in Smithfield, RI is one of our greatest assets. Future capital investments in facilities will continue to add value to the student experience and further elevate Bryant as a destination of choice for applicants in the region and nationwide. I look forward to working with President Ross Gittell, the President’s Cabinet, the deans, and other key Bryant leadership to tackle these important initiatives.

Vision 2030’s future-facing goals will impact every part of the Bryant community. What role does philanthropy play in advancing its strategic priorities?

President Gittell is visiting alumni across the country to share the Vision 2030 strategic plan. His articulation of the ways Bryant can realize increased success is inspiring, and I encourage all of you to join us when we are in your area.

All schools rely on private support to go above and beyond what tuition dollars alone can provide. Philanthropy has played a critical role in establishing Bryant among the top schools in the country for business education, and our initiatives at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences position us at the forefront of innovation and market responsiveness.

Philanthropy catalyzes change by pairing visionary donors with institutional priorities to make a difference in the educational and social experience of our students. Every member of the Bryant community can play a role in Vision 2030 by supporting initiatives that mean the most to them, either personally or professionally.

Gifts of all sizes matter because their impact is cumulative. You, along with thousands of other Bryant community members who give back each year, can provide students with the resources they need to succeed. Among our most important priorities are scholarships that allow capable students access to a Bryant education. So many of our alumni benefited from the generosity of others who came before them and gave back to the University. I’m always happy to speak with you about the impact that you can make on current and future Bulldogs.

In addition to making a gift, how can our community contribute to Bryant’s success and support students?

Bryant’s momentum is palpable, and the best thing you can do is partner with us. In addition to your financial support at the level that is comfortable for you, engage with the Bryant community. Come to campus for events, follow us on social media, catch the Bulldogs at sporting events around the country, and wear your Bryant gear with pride. Tap into the Bryant network of professionals when you’re hiring or looking for your next job, and encourage your friends to join you for Homecoming and your next Reunion. There are so many ways to take an active role. I look forward to meeting many of you soon!

CGA RATES HAVE GONE UP AGAIN!

The news keeps getting better for the gift that pays you: a charitable gift annuity (CGA). For the second time in just six months, payout rates have increased. They are now higher than they have been in more than a decade, making now a great time to consider this gift that benefits you and Bryant University.

This amazing gift provides you with stable, regular income — regardless of the economy. After your lifetime, the remaining amount becomes part of your legacy at Bryant University, allowing us to thrive far into the future.

How it Works: With a CGA, you make a donation using cash, marketable securities or other assets, and we, in turn, pay you a fixed amount for life. You’ll receive reliable, predictable payments for your lifetime (and the lifetime of a loved one, if you choose).

New Option for You: If you are 70½ or older, you can now make a one-time election for a qualified charitable distribution of up to $50,000 (without being taxed) from your IRA to fund a CGA.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Some limitations apply, so contact Lauren McLellan, Assistant Vice President for Development, at 401-232-6528 or lmclellan@bryant.edu for more details and a personalized illustration at no obligation.

Alumni And Parent Networking Events

January 13 | Palm Beach, FL

VISION 2030 RECEPTION WITH PRESIDENT ROSS GITTELL, Ph.D.

Trustees, alumni, and friends gathered in Palm Beach to celebrate philanthropy including Ronald Cioe ’67, Douglas Lueck ’86, his wife, Shirley, and Mary (Thornton) Reis ’69

January 8 | New Delhi, India

ALUMNI AND NEW STUDENT GATHERING WITH PROVOST RUPENDRA PALIWAL, Ph.D.

Bryant University Trustee Eric Handa ’97 (far right) hosted a reception for alumni and accepted students and their parents in New Delhi, India in January.

Joining Eric (above) is Director of International Admission, Andrew Kupec, Sakshi Talwar ’10MBA, Bryant Trustee Jim Brady ’81, and Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D.

January 17 | New York, NY

STUDENT ALUMNI NETWORKING NIGHT IN SOHO

Bryant students and alumni gathered for a casual networking night in SoHo during winter break. Pictured below are Rebecca Kaminskas ’23, Madelyn Jones, Skylar Walters, and Hailey Olshensky ’25 At left are William Hickox ’24 and John Henry Dyroff ’24

After graduating from Bryant in 1972 with a Bachelor’s degree in economics, Gary Bower ‘72 went on to the University of Rhode Island for a Master’s in Accounting and became a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA). Not long after, he began teaching accounting at the Community College of Rhode Island while building a private CPA practice on the side. “I loved teaching, loved going to work, loved interacting with students,” he says. In the classroom, Bower liked to illustrate classroom work by telling stories about his clients to help supplement the curriculum and show students how things worked in the real world. With a teaching career that spanned 40 years, he had learned a thing or two about how to keep students engaged. “Any subject can be boring,” he says, “or it can be brought to life, depending on how it’s presented. It’s not just what’s in the book.” He continued teaching for more than four decades, ultimately retiring in 2020, and he continues managing a small clientele as a CPA.

“Around 1976, I did my first tax return for a client,” he says, “and I still have that client today.”

While he is no longer in the classroom, Bower continues to think alot about creating engaging student experiences and how it is influenced by activities both in and out of the classroom. Because of this belief, Bower has chosen to focus his philanthropic giving to Bryant on the men’s basketball team because he understands that a well-rounded college experience helps students get the most out of their education. “It’s part of the student experience,” he says, for the entire community to show up and cheer on the men’s basketball team.

The team has enjoyed success in recent years, including a first-ever appearance in the Division I NCAA Tournament in March 2022, and Bower, a member of the freshman basketball team during his time at Bryant, believes the Bulldogs’ increasing prominence benefits the entire University by raising its profile nationwide.

On February 8, Bryant University students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of the community celebrated the school’s 160th anniversary with an in-person celebration at the Michael E. ‘67 and Karen L. Fisher Student Center. A timeline mural decorated a wall in the Fisher Center and an exhibit in the George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology included a display of artifacts from Bryant’s history. Event organizers, Bryant students Andrew Hinckley ’23, Liam Fluharty ’23, and Danielle Latty ’24, collaborated with Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Inge-Lise Ameer and the University’s Krupp Library staff, who helped organizers delve into the school’s rich history, from its founding as Bryant & Stratton National Business College to the present day. The event offered a chance for students, faculty, and staff to understand the origins of Bryant traditions and the connections that have brought together generations of Bryant students.

Any subject can be boring or it can be brought to life, depending on how it’s presented. It’s not just what’s in the book.

GARY BOWER ‘72

Bower says he also advises his clients to support the charities and nonprofit causes that are meaningful to them by making gifts from their retirement savings accounts, a tax-advantaged method of giving.

“I think it’s very important when you’re giving advice — is the person who’s giving that advice following it?” he asks. “If you’re not walking the talk, then maybe that really isn’t good advice.” Once he reached 70½ years of age, the minimum age to take advantage of this type of charitable giving, Bower began directing funds from his own IRA to

Bryant, commonly known as a qualified charitable distribution. In this way, Bower reaches his minimum annual required distribution while ensuring that his giving to Bryant is tax-free. If he were to withdraw the funds from his IRA before writing Bryant a check, the funds he withdrew would be subject to federal and state income taxes, where applicable. Instead, by making direct distributions, Bower maximizes the impact of his giving on the University.*

Though the tax benefits of giving through IRA withdrawals can be substantial, Bower says they are not what motivated him to give back to Bryant. “Ask yourself, ‘What are your philanthropic interests?’ The answer should guide you,” he says. “My number one thing is that I want to see the men’s basketball team do well.” Bower sees his support of men’s basketball as a part of the Vision 2030 strategic plan, which provides the roadmap for Bryant’s next decade through academic excellence, outstanding student life, competitive athletics, and student outcomes among the nation’s top 1% for ROI. “That foresight makes me want to continue to give to Bryant,” he says.

January 18 | Washington, DC

ALUMNI RECEPTION WITH DEAN OF ARTS AND SCIENCES VERONICA MCCOMB, Ph.D.

Charde (Hunt-Jeanty) Penn ’17, and Fatima Bamba ’19 caught up with College of Arts and Sciences Dean Veronica McComb, Ph.D. at City Tap in Washington DC.

January 17 | Scottsdale, AZ

ALUMNI RECEPTION WITH PROFESSOR MIKE ROBERTO

Bryant University Trustee Professor of Management Michael Roberto, D.B.A. met with Bryant alumni for an energizing session on leadership cases from three crises: Disney, Peloton and Boeing. Pictured with Professor Roberto (left) are Marissa (Faenza) Crean ’81, Colleen Wilson ’10 Rebecca Verney ‘18, and Troy Byrd ‘01

January 18 |

Boston, MA

STUDENT ALUMNI NETWORKING NIGHT

Grant Thornton hosted a successful January alumni, parent and student networking event. Pictured above left to right: Joe Cuggino ’22 Marc Benjamino ’21 Manu Mathew P’26 and Evan Koogler ’20 Second picture: Daniel Teixeira ’25, Eileen Hayes ’07, and Eliana Ochieng ’24