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(Part of a series of articles on charitable giving and the Union County Foundation by David Vollrath - Exec. Dir.) Ten years ago if you would have told me that in 2006 a majority of Americans would carry an economical miniature phone on their person I would have been skeptical. If you would have told me that many "regular folk" would carry miniature computer devices named after a fruit (PDA’s) I would have said "yeah right", and if you would have told me that my son would be in China and that anyone could talk to him free over their computer using something called "skype" I would have been very confused. All these scenarios 10 years ago would have been something that maybe were imagined to be within the realm of the very rich but certainly not anything applicable to main stream America. The idea of leaving a legacy is kind of like that too. What was once deemed only applicable to the rich and famous today has application to virtually all of us. The most recent Annual Report on Philanthropy for 2004 indicated Americans gave $19.8 billion dollars to charity in ‘04 through bequests in their wills. Fact: More and more people every year include simple charitable bequests in their wills. Some experts attribute this growing charitable activity to the notion that we live in an age of abundance that doesn’t necessarily yield proportionate happiness. Many people have discovered that genuine happiness often is rooted in helping other people. Consequently, as a nation, we are supporting charitable causes more each year. A 2002 Money magazine survey found that "people who regularly make charitable contributions are happier, more confident and more content than those who do not." A legacy doesn’t even have to be solely financial in nature. A recent article in Money magazine by Jean Chatzky pointed out the growing popularity of "Ethical Wills". This type of will does not replace a traditional will and is not a legal document but as the article stated: "While a traditional will tells your loved ones what you want them to have, an ethical will tells them what you want them to know." This can be in the form of a letter, or a recording, or even a video that might impart your insights and wisdom to your loved ones. This message might include your special historical perspectives on how your family came to be in a position to support charitable causes and why lending that support is important to you. It might include important meaningful lessons that you learned along life’s way. The Union County Foundation encourages you to join the growing number of Americans who have, via a bequest in their will, consciously decided to support a cause that is of personal importance. It is indeed an admirable and desirable goal to make sure family is taken care of via one’s will, but it is equally important and gratifying, to model charitable giving to your family. Select a cause, talk to your heirs about why it is important to you to include financial support of the cause in your will (what a great lesson for adult children and grand kids), and feel good that you have made provision to leave this world a bit better than it might have been otherwise The Union County Foundation encourages you to consider your present and future charitable goals. The Foundation is equipped to help you achieve these goals by providing: planned giving and estate planning resource information, charitable gift annuities/life income plans, and a broad array of charitable choices. Please call us at 937-642-9618, email commfounduc@imetweb.net, reference our website at www.emarysville.com/unioncountyfoundation, or stop by our Marysville office at 126 N. Main St. We are committed to helping you.... “preserve your footprint in time.” |
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