A Gift That Gives Back

Craig Williams

Craig Williams (BBA, ’78), a graduate of the Anderson School of Management, loves a win-win-win situation, and he feels the charitable gift annuities he set up with the UNM Foundation fit the bill perfectly. A charitable gift annuity is a combination of an annuity that provides fixed, lifetime payments and an estate gift to benefit UNM when the annuity terminates. The remaining funds will ultimately benefit his favorite parts of UNM: The Anderson School for Management and Lobo Baseball and Softball.

Craig grew up in Albuquerque and was busy as a swimmer and baseball player while attending Manzano High School. He transferred to UNM from another university after realizing he was a Lobo at heart. Craig’s father and grandfather were UNM alums, so the transfer to UNM felt right. His loyalty to the Lobos has stood the test of time. Craig’s email address includes a reference to the Lobos, and his home contains what he describes as a “UNM shrine of memorabilia.”

When asked about choosing to pursue his degree at the Anderson School of Management, Craig chuckled when recalling a conversation with his dad that sent him in that direction. While in his 20s he complained about having to drive the family station wagon because he did not think it was cool. His dad used this opening to nudge him into studying business so he could learn how to make money. That motivation worked.

The Anderson School of Management was a great fit for Craig. One of Craig’s business classes involved a simulation game in which each classmate was tasked with selling pretend “widgets” with the goal of earning the greatest profits. Key takeaways from that experience shaped Craig’s approach to his successful career in commercial HVAC sales.

Craig Williams

Craig decided to give back because his education taught him to manage his time, discover meaning in each class, and interact with many kinds of people. Craig has also included a bequest for UNM in his trust.

As a three-time national champion in the Winter Triathlon (running, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing), Craig knows quite a bit about setting goals. Annuities are a key part of his retirement plan because they will give Craig a predictable stream of funds during his new stage of life. This makes it easy for him to focus on his love of outdoor adventures, including ski days in Utah and New Mexico, and mountain biking events across the gorgeous landscapes of the Southwest. Not surprisingly, Craig also finds time to watch the Lobos!