A Cultural Gem

Laraine and Leon Lasdon share many interests: daily walks through their Austin neighborhood, playing golf, and travel, which always includes a visit to local museums. When at home in Austin, the Lasdons frequent the Harry Ransom Center — the internationally renowned humanities research center at The University of Texas at Austin. With a planned gift to the Ransom Center, the Lasdons hope to increase the center’s reach. “We want more people to experience the wealth of literary and artistic treasures within the Harry Ransom Center,” Laraine says.

The couple has done their part to spread the word about the Ransom’s unique exhibits by serving as volunteer docents. In that role, they have provided the Center’s visitors, which number 60,000 annually, with information on such collections as Albert Einstein’s unpublished notes for his work on general relativity and the cinematic archives of actor Robert De Niro.

A Gift for Future Generations

“Educating people is important to me,” says Leon, who was a UT professor in the McCombs School of Business. “It’s what I did my whole life. And it’s important to Laraine, too. She’s also a teacher, just as a docent.”

With their strong belief in the power of humanities to spark discovery and understanding, the Lasdons feel making planned gifts to cultural institutions is an opportunity too frequently overlooked. Laraine hopes their gift will inspire others to consider the impact a planned gift can have on future generations. “Our gift sends a message,” says Laraine. “And that message is that we value UT’s cultural offerings, and we want them to continue.”

Your Story, Your Legacy

We have a complimentary gift that will help you preserve your own story and, if you wish, help you determine if your life story includes a gift to the Ransom Center, as the Lasdons' story does. For more information, contact the Gift and Estate Planning Team at 512-475-9632 or giftplan@austin.utexas.edu.