James R. Jenkins, ’73, and
Anita H. Jenkins, ’74
When James R. (Jim) Jenkins, ’73, and Anita H. Jenkins, ’74, of Midland, Michigan, considered their class reunion gifts, they decided a 35-for-35 formula sounded just right: $35,000 from each of the alumni couple to celebrate 35 years.
So they added $70,000 to the scholarship fund they endowed at the Law School in 2005, which provides financial aid for students from historically underrepresented groups.
The “why” of the gift was simple.
“It’s the right thing to do,” says Anita Jenkins, now retired after a career as a tax lawyer with The Dow Chemical Company. “We believe that at some point you have enough, and then you share more of your time, talent, and treasure. This is what our parents did.”
Jim Jenkins added, “We are pleased to assist others in having the opportunity to obtain the excellent and future-focused preparation that we had when we were at the University of Michigan.”
They have also been loyal supporters of the Law School Fund for more than 25 years, including several recent years at the Cavaedium Society level of more than $2,500 annually.
Jim Jenkins is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Deere & Company. Both he and Anita earned their undergraduate degrees from Michigan, as did their children, James R. II and Andrea Louise. Andrea also has created an endowed scholarship for the benefit of historically underrepresented groups in the University’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.