May is Leave a Legacy Month, a national public awareness campaign meant to encourage people to leave a planned gift to a charity or cause that is meaningful to them.
Look ahead another ten, twenty, thirty, or forty years down the road. Are the causes you care about still being supported, uplifted, and moved forward? With planned giving, you can ensure that’s the case. When you remember the community foundation in your estate plan, you are making a decision to support your charitable goals for years to come. Such a gift allows you to preserve your family name, honor loved ones, provide for heirs, minimize your tax burden, and most importantly, make significant contributions to our community that may not have been possible during your lifetime.
The Otsego Community Foundation has honored this special form of philanthropy by establishing the Legacy Society, which recognizes members for their foresight and commitment to the future of our community. Any individual or couple who names the Otsego Community Foundation as the beneficiary of any type of planned or deferred gift will be honored with this membership designation.
Below are some quotes from current Legacy Society members on their experience with the OCF:
Why am I a member of the Otsego Community Foundation Legacy Society? That is a very easy answer: Love for this amazing community. My family has lived in Gaylord for 6 generations, and I want wonderful things to happen past the generations that follow me. I have complete trust in the leadership and knowledge of the OCF and know that my legacy will help shape a future that is strong and bright.
– Dolores (Dee) Kuehlenthal
We spoke with Dana Bensinger at the Otsego Community Foundation about making a legacy donation to the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts fund, because the foundation and society are extremely well-managed, trustworthy, have a great track record and benefit our community in so many ways.
– Janet Allen and James Smith Jr.
The Otsego Community Foundation has had a reputation of being here for our community in a vast number of ways and was suggested to me by my financial advisor as I was looking for a place to leave my estate. I like the idea of the Legacy Society because it gives me the opportunity to leave a lasting gift of philanthropy after I am gone and have it under one umbrella. It’s great peace of mind knowing things will be in good hands.
– Susan A. Jordan
Joining the Legacy Society requires two steps:
- First, determine the type of gift you would like to designate and arrange for this planned or deferred gift to benefit the foundation (the foundation is happy to assist you and/or your professional advisor in this process). You may already be in the process of completing this important step.
- Second, inform the foundation by submitting the Legacy Society form, which is included with this invitation.
Gifts to the community foundation are generally endowed and leave a permanent legacy in the community. Planned gifts can establish new funds or strengthen existing ones and can support one or more of your favorite causes you care about most, forever. As always, your membership in the Legacy Society can be anonymous if that is your preference.
To learn more about joining the Legacy Society, call and speak with Dana Bensinger, OCF Executive Director, at 989-731-0597.
Legacy Society Members
- Anonymous
- Brad & Dana Bensinger
- Scott Chesley
- Bill & Liz Forreider
- Duane Jasinski
- Susan A. Jordan
- Bruce & Tammy Kohnert
- Hans and Dolores Kuehlenthal
- Mary B. Seger
- James Roth
- Tom Wagar
- Aara Sue Willison
- Janet M. Allen & James C. Smith Jr.