Giving to WSB

Milo Pinkerton (MS ’79) studied real estate under the legendary James A. Graaskamp. After Pinkerton earned his graduate degree, he worked as a project director for a construction company that developed low-income housing and then held positions helping property owners restructure debt in the face of foreclosure. He left the corporate world in 1988 to set out on his own as a real estate developer. “The education I received opened so many doors for me,” says Pinketon. “I believe in the students coming up and am always thinking, ‘How can I help them?’”

Ross Freedman (BBA ’97) and Brad Schneider (BBA ’97) have launched two companies together, including Rightpoint, a global professional services firm with more than 90,000 employees. “After all these years in business together, we’re still close friends,” Schneider says. Freedman, Schneider, and Rightpoint made a joint gift to the Entrepreneurs Forward Fund. “If you really believe the School is the key ingredient to what made you successful, it’s important to support that for other people, too,” Freedman says.

Rachel Hyslop (BS ’98, MBA ’14) believes in having an attitude of gratitude. Having had several leadership roles at Springs Window Fashions, Hyslop credits her time at the Wisconsin School of Business with exposing her to new perspectives, diverse thinkers, and lifelong friendships. “When I think about charitable giving, it’s important to give back to the institution that helped me become who I am today,” says Hyslop. “It comes down to being someone who cares about other people and helping them achieve whatever their potential is.”

When the company he worked for went bankrupt, Todd Pilcher (MBA ’14) suddenly found himself faced with uncertainty in his career. In the face of this challenge, Todd was able to reinvent himself; he received a full scholarship to attend the Wisconsin Full-Time MBA Program. “From a giving standpoint, I think about helping one person who might be in an unfortunate position like I was,” he says. “My biggest drive is knowing that I can help alleviate other students’ stress and financial burden.”