Richard Semmler,
Mathematics professor
(Annandale, Va.)
How much he makes: Slightly
more than $100,000.
How much he gives: About half of
his income, for a total of about
$1.2-million to date. In addition to
his professorship, Mr. Semmler,
64, does maintenance work at his
apartment complex and editing
for an author so he can earn
enough to give half of his money
away. “I get quite a bit of
satisfaction out of it,” he says, “of
trying to make a difference in the
community and the world.”
Why he gives: Mr. Semmler
made his first gift 40 years ago
to his alma mater, Plattsburgh
State University of New York. A
scholarship student, he felt he had
an obligation to show his gratitude
for the support he received. A
dozen years ago, he started giving
much of his income to six groups
he thinks make a big difference
for the communities in which
they work. He has a personal
connection to some of them, like
Plattsburgh State and the fundraising
arm of his main employer,
Northern Virginia Community
College. He does volunteer work
with others, such as Central
Union Mission, in Washington,
and Habitat for Humanity.
How he gives: Mr. Semmler says
he always specifies how he wants
his money to be spent: “That way,
I can see tangible results.”