Family
A Legacy of Love: How Kathleen Is Making a Lasting Difference
Thinking about the future can be emotional, but empowering
St. Jude Legacy Donor Kathleen
St. Jude
As women, we are the caregivers, the professionals, the builders of community. We build our lives around the people and beliefs that matter to us. So, it’s natural to want that work and those efforts to continue long after we do.
In honor of National Make-A-Will Month, consider what you’ve put in place to carry forward what matters most. Charitable giving is one excellent way to ensure that the causes you care about most are supported for years to come.
Rethinking Legacy Beyond Family
One of the beautiful things about getting older is the wisdom and comfort of knowing who and what is most important to you. Another beautiful thing: There’s room for them in your trust and will. Just as you set aside assets for family and other loved ones, legacy giving allows continued support of values you’ve long championed. Plus, even smaller amounts go a long way toward making a powerful difference.
Kathleen O’Leary has been learning this firsthand.
Kathleen’s Story
After a fulfilling, successful career, Kathleen O’Leary knew she wanted to give back to the world in some way. Several family members had been affected by cancer, so cancer research was important to her. When friends introduced her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, it felt like a perfect match. She appreciated their thoughtful pediatric cancer research, which they share globally. Kathleen also valued the St. Jude holistic approach, taking care of both a child and their family, providing education, housing, and more during and after treatment.
She started with regular donations to the nonprofit. Later, with the help of her financial advisor, accountant, and attorney, Kathleen added St. Jude as a beneficiary in her trust and will.
“There are so many people who face incredible challenges,” Kathleen explains. “To be able to provide some sort of help is not only heartwarming for me, but also, I am one little dot in the world, and this is a way I can make an impact. There's importance in sort of living your legacy. To me, legacy is: What am I doing with the gifts that I've been given?”
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How To Think About Legacy Giving
A will is, in essence, an act of care – for those whom you love, and for causes you believe in. It’s never too late to add a bequest to a trust. It’s surprising how far even a small percentage can go. Plus, as Kathleen discovered, it’s empowering to be able to create such meaningful impact. Let National Make-A-Will Month inspire you to turn ideas into opportunity.
How to Support a Cause Important to You
To set up a legacy gift, start by creating a will or an estate plan. A financial advisor or estate planner can help you map out the best steps. If you already have a will, they can advise on adding a bequest that makes sense for you and your family.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital provides support, research, and cutting-edge treatment for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Because families never receive a bill for treatment, housing, travel, or food costs1, donor support, including gifts like Kathleen’s, is an essential part of how St. Jude can do what they do.
Click here to learn more about leaving a legacy of your own with St. Jude.
Sources:
1 St Jude: https://www.stjude.org/promotion/impact-giving-pm.html
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