Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Plan To Give, Give To Plan


The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided its Congressional Charter and the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

This mission statement guides all Red Crossers, whether volunteers or staffers.  But how does it apply to our donors, the life-blood of our organization?

The simple act of including American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter in your estate plan follows the 3 “Ps”:  Prevent, Prepare and Provide.

Merely by taking the time to formulate an estate plan, which typically includes a will or trust, you prevent your loved ones from additional distress at a difficult time.  Knowing your wishes can be of help and comfort to those most dear to you.  As the sad events of Hurricane Katrina and the Bucks County Yardley floods have shown us, it is not only the elderly who need to concern themselves with an estate plan.  Our Red Cross family service workers hear daily of the added anguish a spouse suffers because the young couple just never got around to making a will.

Be prepared.  It’s not only the Boy Scout motto.  Preparation for the distribution of our estate and the care and support of dependants is something we can all accomplish.  We have learned as a country how crucial it is to be prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters.  Take this to heart on a more personal level and place “Review and/or make a will” on your 2011 To Do list. 

Provide for loved ones and trusted organizations, like your local American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter. All Red Cross assistance is free of charge through the generosity of the American people.  Planned gifts, such as a bequest in an estate plan, help our chapter provide relief and sustain our operations and services.  A gift at death can often be at a more significant level than one during life, when the demands on income are unknown.

Prevent, prepare, provide.  A thoughtful gift in your estate to our Chapter can fulfill the mission of the American Red Cross right here in Lower Bucks County.
For additional information, please contact Jane E. Ward, Director of Development and Planned Giving at 215-946-4870 ext 101.

No comments:

Post a Comment