Rob and Robyn Wagoner
“TMS has been the professional organization for Rob’s career and as such, we feel an obligation to support its philanthropic arm, the TMS Foundation, just as we support academic institutions to assist future students. We know from first-hand experience that the money is used efficiently, effectively, and wisely. The Foundation has a unique focus on young professionals that was missing in our philanthropic portfolio. We both also greatly enjoy meeting the young professionals and hobnobbing with them at special Foundation events at the TMS annual meeting. It isn’t all altruistic!
As members of the Foundation’s Platinum Society for Lifetime Giving, we have been very gratified by the warmth we have felt both by TMS peers and by young professionals who have benefited from the Foundation’s programs. We have also met many of the other Society members and have grown to know them better. Being a Society member identifies one as a consistent supporter; it makes the TMS experience even more pleasant in terms of small-but-important conveniences, like concierge registration service at the TMS annual meeting, access to the Foundation-sponsored Volunteer Lounge that we both use profusely, and wonderful, intimate donor receptions and dinners that enable us to connect with our colleagues as well as up-and-coming early career professionals.
For those who have sufficient means to support themselves, giving to others is one of the most worthwhile and rewarding things for peace of mind and contentment. More specifically, it is time to pay back for all the many advantages that TMS gave to Rob as a young scientist and professor.”
About Rob and Robyn Wagoner
Rob, a professor emeritus at The Ohio State University, became acquainted with TMS as an undergraduate and graduate student in the 1970s. He became more involved over the years as a professional member, eventually serving the Society as President in 1997. Robyn has been a “social member” from the beginning, attending nearly all TMS annual meetings with Rob over the past 35 years. Rob and Robyn have been committed to the TMS Foundation since its inception in the 1990s and have donated consistently. In recent years, Rob spearheaded the Foundation’s revitalization efforts and then served as the Board of Trustees Chair from 2013 to 2016.