Planning Leads to a Meaningful Legacy

A planned gift from alumnus Thomas Berresford is now providing scholarships and funding medical research in honor of the donor and his sister. The Thomas E. Berresford and Ella B. Waltz endowments are making a difference in Arizona Athletics, the University of Arizona Alumni Association, Sarver Heart Center, and the UArizona Cancer Center.

Berresford strategized with his attorneys and the UArizona Foundation gift planning team to ensure his estate plan reflected his giving priorities. He also named his endowed gifts in honor of his sister Ella, who was his lifelong best friend, and himself.

The largest portion of Berresford’s gift goes to scholarships for student-athletes and names a conference room within the Ginny L. Clements Academic Center, where Wildcats work with learning specialists, academic counselors, and other professionals to prepare for life after graduation.

The second endowed scholarship will be awarded through the Alumni Association. Berresford had close ties to the organization, having served as a member of its board while he lived in California and worked for NBC.

Berresford joined NBC after serving in the Army and worked for the company for 33 years in finance and public relations roles. After retiring, Berresford returned to Tucson and became the Alumni Association's first CFO.