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Every gift you make to the Center makes a difference in the lives of others. You help fund legal efforts on behalf of the most vulnerable among us. You help educate our nation’s schoolchildren on the dangers of bigotry and extremism. You bring us a step closer to realizing our vision of a future free of hatred and intolerance.
Though some may say that future is a long way off, we must never quit the journey. You can continue your commitment to our shared vision of tolerance by joining the special group of donors who make up Partners for the Future. By including the Center in their Wills or estate plans, our Partners help safeguard the Center's long-term mission, while providing a legacy for loved ones and peace of mind for themselves.
Whether you think of yourself as rich or poor, or somewhere in between, your planned gift will make a difference. Even a small bequest in your Will can have a big impact when combined with gifts from other caring individuals like Katrina Meredith (see page 1).
You don't have to choose between leaving a gift to your family or your favorite charity. You can do both, and some charitable gifts may actually save your family money by decreasing the amount they pay on their inheritance taxes.
Importance of a Will
• Make sure you have an up-to-date Will (or living trust) that reflects your charitable objectives. Without these documents, you surrender control of your property and assets to the courts with no consideration to personal relationships or the differing needs and lifestyles of family and loved ones.
• Although there are many methods of arranging for the orderly transfer of property at death, a valid Will ensures that nothing is overlooked.
• After providing for family members and friends, you can use your Will to continue your support of causes that are important to you, such as the Center and its programs.
Contact your financial advisor (a financial planner, lawyer or accountant) and ask for advice about which charitable gift best meets your goals, and please consider making the Center a beneficiary. If you return the enclosed envelope and request information about Wills, we will send you a free booklet, Giving Through Your Will. It includes information that will help you think through the process and gather information for your attorney.
Your Will Reflects Your Values
Your Will says something about you. It says that you care about your loved ones and want to protect them by taking care of legal matters relating to the transfer of the property in your estate.
Additionally, your Will provides insight into your lifetime involvements and concerns. Bequests to family members speak of your love; bequests to organizations speak volumes about your values.
For example, when you include the Center in your Will, you reveal the importance that philanthropy played in your life, and you leave a legacy for future generations for a cause in which you deeply believe. Such action has a ripple effect — it encourages those you leave behind to consider their own values and legacies.
Other Planned Gifts
Other gift planning opportunities include charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts through life insurance and retirement plans. All of these provide a way of planning for the Center’s future along with your own.
If you have already provided for the Center’s future in your Will or estate plan, please let us know. We want to express our gratitude to you and welcome you as our newest Partner for the Future.
Update Your Will Regularly
You are to be commended if you already have a Will. However, it is important to review your Will every three to five years, especially if there have been significant changes in your life, such as:
• Change in marital status -— If you have been recently married,
widowed, or divorced.
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Birth of a child or grandchild — You may want to change an existing bequest.
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Children reaching adulthood — Provisions you made for them when they were young may need to be revised.
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Move to another state — Probate and estate laws differ significantly from state to state. Consult an attorney in your new state of residence.
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Changes in the value or type of assets in your estate — You may have left to a loved one an asset that you no longer own.
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Personal representative named in your Will may no longer be able to serve.
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New or revised state or federal laws regarding estate planning and taxes may affect the efficiency and validity of your Will.
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Change in charitable interests or goals — Be sure your philanthropic intentions are carried out and that organizations you support are remembered after your death.
When you review your Will, consider adding a charitable bequest to the Center. We will be happy to send sample wording to assist your attorney.
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