PHILANTHROPY
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It’s All AboutYOU Leaving a Legacy: A Gift for Today and for Generations to Come
They pile up on our desk and in our in-box — the requests for donations, invitations to fundraisers, pleas for support — so many vital organizations seeing to the needs of our youth, our elderly, our aina, stitching together the fabric of the community. Sometimes it’s hard to know how to start, how to really make a difference. Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) understands and makes it their mission to help those who want to do good do greater. That’s why many in the community turn to HCF to
establish legacy funds — a designated portion of their estate in their will or trust — focused on supporting those needs most important to them for generations to come. Bob Bean, founder of Alert Alarm and a member of the HCF Board of Governors, did just that. “My wife and I have a great love for animals,” he said, “So we established our legacy fund Bob and Frances Bean have created a legacy gift that will benefit Hawai‘i for generations to come
at HCF because we know they’ll carry out our wishes to continue to support animal rights and other causes we care about in our name after we have gone.”
with means establish some sort of legacy fund to benefit their community after they pass. In Hawai‘i, however, the numbers lag, with only 17% committing to a legacy gift. These While Hawai‘i gifts — everything continues to enjoy from scholarship generous giving funds to beach “A legacy gift, no from households preservation matter what size, can across the state, efforts to ongoing research shows make a big difference support for that those with the under-served in our community. greatest resources communities — have more potential Anyone can do it, and lay the foundation to give, to do more for a community’s with their money and HCF will ensure that health and make a more lasting the greatest impact is wellbeing over contribution right generations. being made now and here at home. Legacy gifts are into the future.” Across the country, structured to meet 30% of families the interests – Bob Bean
> Did you know: If Hawai‘i’s families designated just 10% of their estate to a charitable cause, their investment could mean up to $6 billion back into the community over time.
Learn how it’s a bout y ou at Hawai‘iCommunity F oundation. o r g
and preferences of the donor and are easily done with the help of a financial advisor. While people often think first of outright bequests to HCF, legacy gifts can be as simple as naming HCF as a beneficiary in a retirement plan or life insurance policy. “HCF is so incredibly important to Hawai‘i,” Bean said. “As government grants to fund charitable projects have been severely reduced, HCF has stepped in, helping fund things like early childhood and senior assistance programs.” Legacy gifts are one more way to ensure the many needs of our communities are met, guided by those in the community who know and understand Hawai‘i.