Andrew “Andy” I. Caster AB ’76, MD ’80 and Jacqueline “Jackie” Jacobs Caster MCRP ’83 believe that good health is a cornerstone of happiness. As the couple started to plan for their future, they saw an opportunity to improve human health by investing in groundbreaking biomedical research at Harvard.
With a legacy gift to Harvard Medical School (HMS), the Casters endowed the Jacqueline & Andrew Caster, MD ’80 Professorship, which will provide enduring funding for faculty engaged in both academic medicine and biomedical research for generations to come.
Andy, an ophthalmologist, and Jackie, the president and founder of the Everychild Foundation—a grant-making organization that aims to meet the needs of underresourced children across the Los Angeles area—actively give back to their local community. Supporting HMS through a planned gift was a natural extension of their philanthropy.
“Basic science and medical research are profound ways of improving lives now and in the future," says Andy. “And HMS is widely recognized as one of the most preeminent biomedical research institutions in the world, with incredibly talented investigators.”
The Casters chose to make an unrestricted gift, which gives HMS the flexibility to select both the researcher and the field of study, enabling the School to fund emerging areas of scientific innovation that need the most attention.
“We don’t know what the future is going to bring and what the most pressing matters in society will be,” says Jackie. “We wanted this gift to be flexible and malleable so that it can support researchers who are doing the most critical work that’s needed at the time.”
By designating HMS as the ultimate beneficiary of their respective Roth IRAs to endow the professorship, they can help sustain the future of science at Harvard while also enjoying tax benefits. Retirement assets make excellent tax-efficient gifts since they are among the most heavily taxed assets people possess and incur income tax when distributed to heirs.
Harvard is an important touchstone for the Casters, and their loyalty runs deep. Andy, an alumnus of the College and HMS, and Jackie, an alumna of Harvard Kennedy School, both cherish their experiences at Harvard.
Although Andy and Jackie were both studying in Boston and Cambridge at the same time and shared a Harvard affiliation, their paths never crossed on campus. It wasn’t until a blind date—arranged by one of Andy’s patients—that they finally met. Now, 36 years later, they have two children and a lasting bond with Harvard.
They are thrilled that their investment will help contribute to sustaining crucial scientific research.
“Funding academic medicine is one of the best opportunities to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” says Andy.
Learn more about creating a legacy through your estate plan from Harvard Gift Planning.