Helping Spread the Word
Jack ’71 and Nancy ’73 Matz
When Jack Matz ’71 was asked to be a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, he believed it could be a good opportunity to bring his expertise to the medical school. And after meeting with the dean and the rest of the council, Matz was determined to make a difference in the future of the College of Medicine by offering his own advice and direction.A successful business couple and strong supporters of the university, Matz and his wife Nancy ’73 are Aggies through and through. They credit Texas A&M University with helping them achieve success in life and in business, and continue to give something in return. This has included a personal commitment to give 5,000 hours of service and approximately $1 million to the university, primarily in scholarship endowments and matching fund programs.
“Nancy and I both feel that it is important to give back to Texas A&M,” Matz says. “We have been fortunate in our lives and have experienced success. I don’t think we would have achieved to the level we have if not for A&M. And, as luck would have it, we also met each other there.”
The couple has been altruistic in their giving to Texas A&M, and in the past have endowed two President Endowed Scholarships, a Sul Ross Endowment, an Endowed Opportunity Scholarship and a 12th Man Endowment, in addition to many other gifts. However, their generosity doesn’t end with programs on main campus. After Jack’s experience working with the leadership at the College of Medicine and other members of the Dean’s Leadership Council, the couple decided to donate an estate gift of $50,000 as matching funds to the dean’s discretionary fund.
When asked why they chose to give to the College of Medicine, they don’t falter for a second.
“This gift will hopefully help spread the word because the College of Medicine needs to be promoted,” they said. “Although it is located on the main A&M campus, the College is part of the Texas A&M System, so it has its own needs and endowments separate from the university. We believe few Aggies know that the medical school does not benefit from the funds raised by Texas A&M University. This “diamond in the rough” is but one of the many programs at A&M that needs to become better known.”
But their gifts are meant to do more than just promote the college. Jack and Nancy know their donation will help future physicians, who will go on to help many others.
“We get a lot of pleasure out of being involved and take pride when the things we do help Texas A&M and Aggies become successful. When we donate at the College of Medicine, we know our help will have a REAL multiplying effect, as these graduates get into practices and help many other people.”
(September 2006)
