Foundation can help you leave a legacy

Monday, May 17, 2021
Julie Thompson

Do you ever wonder how you will be remembered?

Will it be by the way you lived your life or by the way you left this earth? What is the one story you want people to remember about you? Take some time to think and make certain it is a meaningful story, especially if it is going to be told for generations to come.

We often see families take generational photos. You know the picture with great-grandpa, grandma, dad, son and granddaughter, ranging in ages of one year to 100 years old. That photo represents certainty that the story of five generations lives on and will never be forgotten. This is known as leaving a legacy.

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, author of Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World, says it best, “As philanthropists, the most powerful legacy we can create is one that keeps on giving – through our children.”

At the Putnam County Community Foundation, we offer the opportunity to become a Legacy Society Member.

A Legacy Society Member aims to be a forward-focused philanthropist. One who inspires people from all walks of life and income levels to think beyond their lifespans. We currently have 48 Legacy Society members who have given generously to the Community Foundation to enhance the Putnam County community.

Our Legacy Society members choose to ensure their philanthropic desires live on by naming a new or existing fund at the Community Foundation. They are naming the Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of their planned gift. This brings up the question of what is a planned gift? A planned gift allows donors to make a meaningful contribution to reflect their values and beliefs. This type of bequest can include life insurance, real estate, gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, retirement assets, and more. Planned gifts can offer various pathways to support non-profit charities of choice or provide life-long income to a donor. The satisfaction that comes from finding that pathway will give the donor peace and comfort of the legacy they are leaving.

The mission of the Putnam County Community Foundation is to partner with those who give to enrich the quality of life and strengthen community for this and future generations. By considering a planned gift, you are helping to fulfill the mission for the future generations of Putnam County. There is no minimum contribution required to start a legacy fund at the Foundation; however, $12,500 is the minimum gift to start your own endowment. Think of it as a gift arranged in the present to be used at a future time.

We invite you to be a part of the Putnam County Community Foundation Family by leaving a planned gift and becoming a Legacy Society Member. We work to partner with our local professional advisers to ensure you have all the information you need to begin planning this phase of your legacy. We encourage you to meet with your attorney, accountant, retirement plan adviser and family members about the positive aspects a planned gift could be for the things that you are most passionate about and important to your loved ones.

The Foundation team welcomes you and looks forward to helping you accomplish leaving a legacy to remember for many generations.

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