John Moore first became involved with Penn in the 1980s when his English Setter, George, was brought to Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital for care. Moore and his wife, Billie Kay Spotts, have since become valued friends of Penn Vet as well as Penn Medicine.
A Creative Way to Support Penn (While Boosting Retirement Income)
How charitable gift annuities make a long-term impact
Winter 2026
Over time, the couple has established eight charitable gift annuities (CGAs) in support of Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center and Penn’s Memory Care Center. In exchange for a contribution of $10,000 or more, a CGA provides income for life at an attractive rate of return. Payments may begin immediately or be deferred to a future date. For many donors, including Spotts and Moore, CGAs can be a strategic way to support the Penn programs that are meaningful to them.
Spotts and Moore staggered their CGAs, establishing annuities at different times, with different payout dates. This approach, known as “laddering,” allows the donor to receive a predictable and steady flow of income while taking interest rate changes into account.
“For us, it was a win-win,” Moore explains. “By establishing CGAs with deferred dates, we could supplement our retirement—and receive a higher rate of return—while supporting priorities we really care about now.”
Moore is also supporting Penn Vet in another important way: by sponsoring Anka, a future working dog currently in training at Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center. Once she “graduates,” Anka will go on to a career in public health and safety.
To learn more, contact Penn’s Office of Gift Planning at (215) 898-6171 or giftplan@dev.upenn.edu.
