Planning for the Future, Investing in Others

Denise King '95 was recently preparing estate documents, and it was time to consider how her assets would be distributed.

"I'd put it off, but it was time to seriously think about what my legacy would be. Family came first, of course, but I wanted to also leave funds to organizations that reflect my values and involvement in the community. Dunwoody College was the first to come to mind."

Denise's career journey started at Dunwoody, as a student in the Machine Tool program. The admissions counselor took her through the building and talked about the various programs. She was young and seeking a career that would support her young family. The counselor emphasized the Machine Tool program because there was a cohort starting that would have more than a dozen women.

"I have always enjoyed school and learning for learning's sake, however, the instructors and staff were next–level in terms of teaching technical skills and supporting a community of creative problem–solvers."

After graduating with her Associate of Applied Sciences degree, she was immediately hired by a distributorship owned by Roy Otto, a friend of the College. Denise's career in industrial sales and marketing sprang from her start at Dunwoody. From all her training and practical application of skills, she was well–prepared to be part of the industry, starting a job that would support her young family. Later, she went on to earn a BS and an MBA.

When asked about her decision to include Dunwoody in her estate plan, Denise explained the personal connection behind the choice.

"My estate gift is to support scholarships because I know that even small financial challenges can slow or derail a student's pursuit of their degree or diploma. I received a small disbursement from the Dunwoody scholarship fund during my time in school, to cover an unexpected expense. I'm making this commitment, in hopes that my gift can alleviate an obstacle for a student or help them get started on their education. I'm so grateful to the people who have funded scholarships in the past and I am proud to make good on my promise to pay it forward."

In addition to her financial support, Denise has stayed closely connected to Dunwoody by serving as a mentor and as a member of the Alumni Association Board. Those connections have only reinforced her passion for the College's mission.

"I have talked to students who land their dream job or move forward on a career path that they didn't think possible," she reflected." Educated people not only have more economic security; they have the power of choice in their life. They have more options in terms of what they will do and how they want to do it. I'm really proud to be a Dunwoody alumna and to support the college."

As she thought through the practical details of her estate plan, Denise chose an option that offered both flexibility and simplicity for the future.

"I chose to allocate a percentage of my estate because I'm relatively young; the value of my estate will increase over the years," she explained. "Setting a percentage means that I can create this plan and not have to adjust a specified dollar amount as the value of my portfolio increases or as markets shift. Additionally, it makes it easier for my estate administrator to manage the distribution of my assets."

Through her planned gift, Denise ensures that future Dunwoody students will have access to the same opportunities that helped launch her career – and that her story of resilience, generosity, and community will continue for years to come.