Retiring this year? Stay in touch with university retiree group
If 2025 is your year to retire, consider staying active and in touch with fellow UTHealth Houston retirees by joining the university’s retiree association.
The University of Texas Houston Retirees Organization (UTHRO) is a self-funded group that offers retirees a means of staying in touch and making new friends while having fun and learning new things.
“I consider retirement to be one of the best times of my life,” said Barbara Kelly, the organization’s president. “Joining UTHRO is a wonderful way to further enhance your retirement experience by staying in touch with those you spent so many years working with.”
Established in 1994, the main purpose of the organization is to provide and maintain a connection between the university and its retirees. Additionally, they facilitate retiree social activities, give back to the community, and sponsor educational presentations relating to medical, economic, legal, and social concerns of retired persons.
Membership
Membership is open to retirees and their spouses as well as employees about to retire, spouses of deceased members, and others interested in the group. Annual dues are $15.
Those who join receive The Evergreen monthly newsletter and have the opportunity to participate in various activities, such as day trips, lunch and learns, the annual health symposium with flu shots, a Valentine’s luncheon, and the group’s annual meeting and holiday luncheon.
“UTHRO also arranges for group travel trips,” Kelly said. “We have cruised the Danube River Christmas Markets and Paris and Normandy. April 2024 found us in Italy. Our next adventure in April 2025 is England to Scotland.
Community Service
In addition to retiree social engagement and education, the group is focused on giving back to the community.
“Our commitment to our motto of ‘Seniors Helping Seniors’ is exemplified by our UTHealth Houston-held Endowment for Health Aging,” Kelly said. “We work closely with the UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging to annually award grants pertaining to aging from the interest income of the endowment.”
In the past, UTHRO awarded $5,000 grants annually but has the goal to bring the corpus of the endowment to a dollar amount that allows for $10,000 grants annually. Since inception of the endowment, UTHRO has awarded $22,000 in grants to UTHealth Houston researchers and educators.
To learn more about UTHRO, visit their website, or contact Barbara Kelly at [email protected] or 832-465-1040.