Commitment to Science and the Arts Inspires Planned Giving

Jeanne Blanchet ’66 supports chemistry research and music education through a charitable gift annuity and other planned gifts

As an undergraduate student at Northwestern University, Jeanne Blanchet ’66 pursued a degree in political science while engaging in her lifelong passion for the arts. Between her studies, she performed in Northwestern’s Waa-Mu Show, exhibited her artwork on and off campus, sang in the chorus for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and played piano at local supper clubs. Blanchet’s experiences at Northwestern provided the foundation for her career as an author, artist, musician, and lecturer.

In gratitude, she has committed to supporting the University through several planned gifts, including a charitable gift annuity (CGA).

Blanchet grew up in the Chicago area and chose to attend Northwestern for its proximity to her family and reputation for academic excellence. She excelled in her coursework and credits her professors with preparing her for the world after graduation. “I didn’t just learn facts at Northwestern,” Blanchet says. “I developed critical-thinking and reasoning skills that have been vital throughout my life.”

After graduation, Blanchet was awarded a prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship for graduate study, and went on to earn a master’s degree from Arizona State University and a PhD from the University of Hawaii, both in Asian Studies. Throughout her career, she presented programs on folk music across the country and served as a lecturer at several universities in the US and Japan. Blanchet found another outlet for her creativity later in life: writing historical fiction. She has published 16 books, including five full-length novels. Her latest book, The Iceman: A Novel of Otzi, is a fictional imagining of the life of Otzi—a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Italian Alps. “I consider myself so fortunate for being able to meld all of my interests into a fulfilling career,” Blanchet says.

Support for ‘Whole Brain’ Education

Now retired and living in Arizona, Blanchet has chosen to leave a legacy at Northwestern through planned giving. Her gifts will support both chemistry research and music education. Her support of these two areas reflects her appreciation for the “whole brain” education Northwestern provides—one that taught her to think both creatively and analytically.

Blanchet’s planned gifts to Northwestern include a generous bequest in her will and a charitable gift annuity—a giving vehicle that allows an individual or couple to make a tax-deductible gift to Northwestern and receive lifetime income payments in return. When the donor(s) pass away, the University receives the remainder of the gift.

“My CGA is a win-win situation,” Blanchet says. “I receive quarterly income payments, and Northwestern benefits from my support.” She adds that her CGA was simple to set up. “Once I decided on the gift amount, the Gift Planning team sent me an explanation of my payment schedule and tax deduction, and we moved forward from there.”

Blanchet hopes that her gifts—which also include her beloved Imagine Series Steinway grand piano, signed by Yoko Ono—will create opportunities for budding musicians and scientists. “I receive great pleasure from the idea that my gifts will be used to train future generations of pianists and pioneering researchers,” she says.

Learn More About CGAs

Contact Northwestern Gift Planning at 800-826-6709 or giftplanning@northwestern.edu to discover the many benefits a charitable gift annuity provides both you and Northwestern University. The Gift Planning team can answer your questions and provide confidential proposals for you without obligation.