Joe Halcomb came to the University of Kentucky in 1969 with a big idea. He wanted to put medicine and engineering together.
With the help of UK faculty, Joe embarked on a course of study that prepared him for a remarkable career in the medical device and biotechnology industries over the past three and a half decades.
Now, through innovative philanthropy, Joe and Joani Halcomb are assisting UK graduate students in the colleges of Engineering andMedicine who have a similar interest in interdisciplinary study. They provided an endowed chair and graduate fellowships to attract top researchers and students to UK. In their honor, the College of Engineering named the Department of Biomedical Engineering the F. Joseph Halcomb III, M.D. Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Their $7 million gift changed the way people looked at giving, showing how supporting interdisciplinary research could create solutions to global problems. It also was innovative in combining outright gifts with planned giving strategies.
"Using planned giving techniques, we learned we could give more and make a bigger impact at UK without diminishing our other goals and interests," Joe said. "I encourage all alumni and friends to take advantage of available planning options through UK Philanthropy."
The Halcombs' gift is leaving a significant mark on UK, fueling groundbreaking research, improving healthcare and supporting student and faculty members' success, all goals of Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign. Through the campaign, UK wants to show that Kentucky can lead the way in solving problems facing Kentuckians and communities worldwide.
Contact Gift and Estate Planning at 859-257-7886 or giftandestate@uky.edu to learn how you can put a planned gift to work so that Kentucky can work harder, reach higher and dream bigger for the future of our institution, our students and our state.