Roby Kaiser $10.8M Bequest Funds Seven Student-Athlete Endowed Scholarships
By: Barb Cossman
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Michigan Athletics announced on Monday (Feb. 19, 2024) that it has received a $10.8 million bequest from the estate of Robert H. Kaiser, funding a total of seven U-M student-athlete endowed scholarships. Bequests, which fall under the umbrella of planned giving, support the future of Michigan Athletics and, like endowments, have a lasting impact on the athletic department's ability to remain self-funded.
"We are incredibly grateful for Roby's passion for Michigan Athletics, and the breadth of his generosity which will impact so many of our student-athletes for years to come," said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "Our athletic teams that represent this university were an important part of Roby's life, and for him to recognize that in this way is truly inspiring. His generosity makes an incredible difference in our ability to support our student-athletes."
A 1972 graduate of Michigan's College of Pharmacy, and an extraordinary fan of Michigan's athletic teams, Roby established a bequest to endow four student-athlete scholarships in 2014: one each in football, men's basketball, women's basketball and hockey. Two years later, he funded one for softball, and in 2020, one each for baseball and volleyball, fully funding a total of seven Robert H. Kaiser Scholarships upon his passing:
- Robert H. Kaiser Endowed Baseball Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Football Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Men's Hockey Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Men's Basketball Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Endowed Softball Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Endowed Volleyball Scholarship
- Robert H. Kaiser Women's Basketball Scholarship
Michigan Athletics was one of the passions Roby shared with his siblings, Steve, Tom and Kristine, and continued following the Wolverines diligently over the years from Florida. He desired to support student-athletes representing a variety of teams, helping provide them the opportunity to compete for, and graduate from, his beloved Michigan. Roby passed away on December 8, 2022.
"We are so proud of Roby for what he has done and will continue to do for Michigan Athletics through his generous endowed scholarship fund donations," Roby's eldest brother, Steve Kaiser, shared. "Roby, Tom, Kristine and I all put ourselves through college with our savings and student loans, so we know how beneficial these funds are. Roby would be pleased to know how grateful these student-athletes are for their endowed scholarships. He truly bled maize and blue!"
A native of Adrian, Michigan, Roby graduated from Adrian Catholic Central High School before attending U-M. Early in his career, he moved to Lake Worth, Florida, where he worked as a hospital pharmacist for nearly 40 years at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach and at the VA Hospital in Riviera Beach.
Michigan Athletics receives no financial support from the university. The department's Fiscal Year 2024 budget for student-athlete financial aid alone is $34.1 million. With cost of attendance continuing to rise, and 55 percent of U-M's student-athletes being out-of-state, endowed scholarships are critical to sustaining the department financially, providing essential support in perpetuity.