With the help of our donors, the Smithsonian Institution is providing unforgettable experiences to millions of visitors each year as we expand our knowledge and solve some of the world's most pressing problems.
Donor Stories
“For nearly 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the most extraordinary and dedicated staff throughout the Smithsonian,” said Dr. Mary Jo Arnoldi, who is now curator emerita in the National Museum of Natural History’s department of anthropology.
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“I’ve always wanted to do something for my nation,” said Tom Hand, a West Point graduate who recently sold the Wisconsin cheese business he co-founded with his wife Char. “Once we had money in hand, rather than just at hand, we had the wherewithal to really make a difference.”
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A long-time California resident, Richard Paegelow had not stepped inside a Smithsonian museum in years. It was not until he began managing his mother’s retirement funds that he reconnected with the institution he had visited as a high school student.
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As the saying goes, beside every great man stands a great woman, and Albert Del Negro gives credit where it is due. “Joining the James Smithson Society was my wife’s idea,” he said, recalling that Patrisha Creevy was a Smithsonian member before him and then suggested increasing their annual support in 2002.
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Some of John and Kimberly DeSalvios’ fondest memories were made at the Smithsonian over 30-plus years. They are seeing to it that future generations of visitors can be inspired in the same ways they were.
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Gary Thunem grew up on a farm in northeastern Montana on The Fort Peck Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux nations. “I would go play on the prairie and come across relics like buffalo horns, arrow heads, and wagon-train ruts,” he said. “I was always interested in learning more about their history.”
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For nearly 50 years, Dr. Soumyo Moitra has visited the Smithsonian, exploring the galleries and gardens and taking in the art, history, culture, science, and technology that is freely accessible to all.
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Anne Page Chiapella is an avid traveler, but no mere tourist. Her trips involve international conservation service work, and at home, she’s a dedicated National Zoo volunteer. In establishing charitable gift annuities, she is giving back to the Smithsonian and opening its doors to all.
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Books and libraries have been central to the lives of Mary Evelyn and Tom Tielking. Learn about how their gift to the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives means more access to these collections for all.
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Meet Bonnie and Jere Broh-Kahn, who are inspired to give generously to the Smithsonian because of their own love of learning and a lifetime of wonderful experiences with us.
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The Rainsleys have a passion for education and believe everyone should have equitable access to it. That’s why they are using a unique gift to ensure continued access to knowledge at the Smithsonian.
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Bradford Benn has been visiting the Smithsonian since he was a child. His endowed gift ensures children (and adults) will have the opportunity to learn and explore the National Air and Space Museum for years to come.
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Fred Voss worked at the National Portrait Gallery for over 30 years. His dedication to the Smithsonian lives on in a gift he made to grow and expand the Gallery's collection.
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Ed Fishwick made a gift in his will to further Smithsonian's mission to inform and inspire.
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While reading Smithsonian Magazine, couple discovers a gift that pays them income for life.
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Gifts from Linda Patterson—an important member of NASA's history—and her husband, Wesley, recognize "what a small blue dot we inhabit."
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Endowing future exhibitions is part of donor Charles Robertson's thank you to the museums', "freedom of exploration, scholarship, and admission."
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"I attended a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Air and Space Museum's restoration and storage facility and was amazed by how much of the collection was not on exhibit," says donor Edward Sachtleben. By designating a gift through his IRA, Edward will ensure that future visitors have a great view.
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Impact Stories
Neil Armstrong's spacesuit from the historic moon landing is on display at The National Air and Space Museum for the first time in 13 years.
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Grand displays—skeletal remains of a T. Rex attacking a triceratops—and interactive opportunities with working paleontologists highlight the newest exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History. Supporters like you make it possible.
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