Traditions continue.
The following speech was presented to the Friendship Village of Dublin Legacy Society Members on June 17, 2011, by resident Virgene Heckman.
When Jim asked me to speak today, I wondered what in the world I could say. Since everyone here has made a legacy gift to Friendship Village of Dublin, I can be sure that you already understand about the importance of giving. As the saying goes, it’s like singing to the choir.
Still, I want to tell you why I’m a Friendship Village of Dublin donor. When I planned to move here, I thought about what size and style of home I would have, what furniture to bring, how I would relate to all the new people I’d be living with, whether I’d like the food and similar self-centered concerns. I certainly didn’t give any thought to what I could do for future fellow residents.
I know I expected to be content here, to be glad to know that I would be in a safe and comfortable environment, but I don’t think I knew how much I would love being part of the Friendship Village of Dublin community, with our many opportunities for entertainment, self-improvement, trips, and activities — the opportunity to do as much as we would like and, at the same time, no pressure to do more than is comfortable. Here I found many new friends and a wonderful support group when I most needed it. So it didn’t take long to realize how fortunate I am to live at Friendship Village of Dublin, and following that, to realize that with good fortune comes the opportunity and the responsibility to share and spread some of that good fortune.
We do some of that through our four funds. Each of the funds serves a different need. They are varied enough that whatever someone’s charitable interests, one of them will be the place where he or she would want to invest. Let’s review them briefly . . . the Memorial Fund, which among other things has purchased updated audio-visual equipment that makes it easier to hear and therefore to better enjoy meetings and programs, as well as to gather to watch a Buckeye football game or other event on the big screen . . . The Health Services Fund, which purchases special equipment and extra amenities for the Health Center . . . The Resident Benevolent Fund, which provides help with the cost of Lifecare for those who have outlived their personal financial resources . . . and last but certainly not least . . . The Scholarship Fund, which helps fund the education of employees and/or family members. This year we were able to provide $2,000 scholarships to four very worthy candidates.
All four of these charitable funds provide an opportunity for frequent giving of relatively small amounts (often as a memorial or in recognition of a birthday or anniversary). Most of our residents are aware of and often contribute to these funds, and every dollar is much appreciated and well-used. But it is the larger gifting opportunities through legacy gifts such as a bequest, life insurance, an annuity or a lead trust that provide the backbone of our charitable funds. All our residents have been informed about these giving opportunities, but I wonder how many have actually thought about doing it. Each of us here today has made such a gift, but we need to go a step further and inform and encourage our friends to do the same.
It’s not easy to talk to others about money matters, but tonight when you go to dinner and someone asks you what you did today, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to tell them about the Friendship Village of Dublin Legacy Society, and how they, too, can become a member. Remind them that a bequest in their will doesn’t cost them anything now, but will only be taken from their estate when they can no longer use it. Or you might want to tell them that a charitable annuity will guarantee them interest income each year . . . currently about five times what they can earn on a CD . . . and part of it is tax-free . . . NOW THAT’S A GOOD INVESTMENT! Maybe some of us who have already made a legacy gift should think about increasing our investment income with another charitable annuity.
I recently read an article about Jon Huntsman, Sr., who is one of only 18 people who have donated more than a BILLION dollars to charity. I don’t know that anyone HERE can make a donation of that size (and if you can, Jim Brakemeyer will be glad to hear from you), but we can listen to and share his philosophy . . . the time to donate money is when you make it, not to wait until you won’t be there to have the joy of seeing the good that your gift can do.
The speaker at The Ohio State graduation last Sunday was John Boehner (U.S. Speaker of the House). Now you may or may not like his politics, but I thought that part of his message was worth repeating today. He said, “If you do the right thing for the right reasons, good things will happen.” Well, good things do happen with the money from our Friendship Village of Dublin Charitable Funds, and I think we all have reason to think that our giving has been and continues to be “doing the right things for the right reasons.”
Recognition:
Donor Recognition Levels
Annual Giving (Donor Fellowship)
Membership attained by donors who support the Friendship Village of Dublin Charitable Giving Program Funds with cumulative annual gifts of at least the following levels each calendar year:
| Leaders’ Circle........................ |
$10,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Patron Associates.................... |
$5,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Mission Supporters.................. |
$1,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Fellow Investors...................... |
$500+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Friends of the Village.............. |
$100+ |
|
In addition, a group of donors will be recognized who contribute at least $5 per month ($60 per year) to the Friendship Village of Dublin Charitable Giving Program Funds for the whole calendar year. Since this group is providing key continuous support for Friendship Village of Dublin, they will be called the Foundation Builders.
Planned Giving (Legacy Society)
Membership attained by donors who support the Friendship Village of Dublin Charitable Giving Program Funds with lifetime cumulative planned gifts, including estate note, will, annuity, life insurance, or other planned gift of at least the following levels:
| Platinum Society........... |
$200,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Gold Society.................. |
$100,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Silver Society................ |
$50,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Bronze Society.............. |
$25,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Cobalt Society............... |
$10,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
| Copper Society.............. |
$1,000+ Recognition Listing |
|
Note: Legacy Society Plaque recognizes irrevocable planned gifts.
Benefactor of the Quarter:
First Quarter 2011 – Friendship Village of Dublin Village Store
Second Quarter 2011 – James Olsen
Third Quarter 2011 – Betty Brown
Fourth Quarter 2011 - Bob & Betty Crook
For more information, please contact:
James Brakemeyer
Director of Charitable Giving
Friendship Village of Dublin
6000 Riverside Drive
Dublin, OH 43017
614-764-1600
jimb@fvdublin.org
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