Smart Money

Gift from Nancy and Dave Petrone will promote financial literacy among all majors 

“Nancy and I have given to a lot of different areas at the university. But it’s always about the people."

Today’s Ducks can choose from more than 300 undergraduate programs. But alumnus, donor, and longtime UO advocate Dave Petrone, BS ’66 (economics), MBA ’68, says all undergraduates will benefit from more of one subject: financial literacy.

A recent gift from Nancy and Dave Petrone will provide lead funding to expand the UO’s current programming and create the Financial Wellness Center to teach students of all majors budgeting, money management, credit basics, and more.

“Over the last few decades, I’ve noticed—from spending time with university students, as well as my kids and their friends—that many young people lack basic financial literacy,” Dave says. 

It’s a pervasive issue, he added. A recent national study from the Hartford Financial Services Group found that 88 percent of students had never taken a personal finance course before starting college. 

“I think part of the problem is a fear of numbers. But this isn’t complex financial analysis. It’s basic and it’s essential—during college and after you graduate. If I could come up with one set of lessons that students should get before earning their diplomas so that they can leave the university ready to succeed and take care of themselves, this would be it.”

The Petrones’ gift has allowed the university to expand its former program, Financial Flight Plan, into the new Financial Wellness Center and to recruit a national leader, Gilbert Rogers, as director. He is training a cadre of students to work as paid peer coaches and workshop facilitators.

“Nancy and I have given to a lot of different areas at the university,” Dave says. “But it’s always about the people. This is no exception. We have tremendous confidence in the people who are leading this initiative. We also like investing seed capital in exciting new ventures. This one definitely fits the bill.” 

Giving Across Campus

In recent years, Nancy and Dave Petrone have continued their rich history of giving to different areas of the university

2020
Innovation, Commercialization, and Economic Development Fund 
Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics (yearly contribution)
Students in Crisis Fund

2019
Petrone Business and Law Success Initiative Fund
Financial Literacy 
Petrone Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Fund

2018
Nancy and David Petrone 
Chair in Economics
David and Nancy Petrone Fund for Science

2017
David and Nancy Petrone Clinic Fellow Fund (College of Education)
David and Nancy Petrone Fund for Excellence in Sports Business
Black Cultural Center lead gift