Edward McCabe ’75, SM ’78

To mark his 50th reunion this year, Ed McCabe made a gift from his IRA account to MIT for the Institute’s unrestricted use. Previously he had established a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) that supports MIT while providing income during his lifetime. “I know what an influence MIT had on my life,” says Ed, who retired from a senior executive position at American Management Systems in which he oversaw development of some of the early customer care and billing systems for the cellular industry. “I still have several good friends who were classmates or roommates. The work MIT does is exceptional. If you think something is a good cause, you ought to support it.”

What inspires his giving to MIT: “In a world where we seem to doubt truth and fact, the Institute, in its search for answers to pressing questions, is on the right long-term course. It’s hard to defy gravity. Facts are immutable. The Institute attempts to discern fact from fluff.”

Why he sees MIT as a good investment: “Those of us in technology can end up with a highly concentrated position in a stock and wish to minimize the risk. Giving that stock to MIT as a CRUT, which is invested alongside MIT’s diversified endowment portfolio, offers tax benefits and a modest return. A qualified charitable distribution from your IRA is another marvelous, tax-efficient way to support the Institute. In my opinion, any investment in MIT has profound societal benefits.”

Where he and wife Ellen, who are world travelers, will venture after their trip east for his 50th reunion: “We’ll go to the Netherlands and then to Tanzania for a safari with friends. On our way home, we’re going to Reykjavík to join a classmate of mine and her husband on an MIT Alumni Travel tour of Iceland.”

Help MIT build a better world. For more information, contact Amy Goldman: 617.253.4082; goldmana@mit.edu. Or visit giving.mit.edu/planned-giving.