Richard and Barbara Coopers Friends of NAU

"Arizona has been good to me," Richard Cooper said. "I want to give back and help build a strong future!"

Richard and Barbara Cooper believe strongly in the future of Northern Arizona University and have a desire to assist students with disabilities. When they created their charitable gift annuities, they directed the funds to be used in Richard's scholarship that is dedicated to helping students with the extra expenses they experience as the result of having special needs, as well as tuition and books.

Although Richard is originally from England, and Barbara from Illinois, they met in Arizona due to a twist of fate. Richard had decided to learn how to play the organ, and fell in love with his teacher, Barbara.

Richard had quite a career before then—coming to Arizona to train with the Royal Air Force in Mesa, then when WWII ended, staying on as a bookkeeper for Hayden Flour Mills in Tempe, eventually working his way up to executive vice-president and retiring at age 51.

When Richard and Barbara moved to Flagstaff they became impressed with NAU and its mission of student-centered learning. As strong believers in education, this was a natural fit for them to invest in future students through a scholarship.

"We want to help students have opportunities they might not otherwise have," said Richard. Barbara added, "We have been so blessed, and we want to share those blessings with others."