Hillsboro Free Press Letter to the Editor – September 3, 2008
Residents can leave a legacy for future
Residents of Hillsboro may be wondering where all those ‘Leave a Legacy’ signs came from, and what do they mean?
Those of us who represent local nonprofit organizations and serve on the Leave a Legacy steering committee each year believe we know what it means on a personal level. Our organizations, by providing housing for the poor, helping the mentally disadvantaged, serving the elderly, protecting children, beautifying our community, and providing medical care, positively impact the quality of life in our communities.
But in order to continue these programs, we depend on generous people who recognize that their contributions are vital to our continuing success. The Leave a Legacy program is designed to motivate those same individuals to make a gift that makes an impact both today and tomorrow. By supporting the charitable causes that have been important to your family through a bequest or a planned gift you can make a difference.
The recent transfer of wealth study indicated that in Marion County alone more than three hundred million dollars will transfer from one generation to the next by the year 2020. If each of us designated a mere 5 percent of our estate for charity we could build a community endowment of more than $15 million over the next 11 years. Think what that would mean to all of us. Imagine if more than $500,000 was available every year to fund special projects and meet emerging needs locally.
In essence, you would be building an independent source of wealth and prosperity for Marion County, guaranteeing that your quality of life will be maintained and enhanced for generations to come.
You don’t have to be wealthy to make an impact. People often shy away from “estate planning” and all the emotional and financial considerations it can involve. Think of it as “legacy planning.” How do you want to be remembered? What is your legacy to your children, your community, and the world? By involving your children in philanthropy, you can provide a wonderful opportunity to reinforce your family’s values.
You can contact your favorite charity, the Hillsboro Community Foundation, the Greater Newton Community Foundation or the Central Kansas Community Foundation to learn more about Leaving a Legacy. Visit with your attorney, accountant or financial planner. They can tell you about the tax benefits of planned gifts and help you determine what will work best for your family.
Together we can make a difference.
Jared Jost, chair
Hillsboro Com. Foundation
Sandra Fruit, exec. director
Greater Newton Com. Foundation