SDPB Sustainer Spotlight Judy Holt, Webster
Born and raised in Watertown, Judy Holt was an addiction counselor for 14 years before semi-retiring. Now she works part-time at an assisted living facility and is an at-home seamstress under the shingle Judy’s Sew and Sew. Judy joined the Friends of SDPB in 1998 and recently became a sustaining member. Favorite programs on SDPB? “Vanished South Dakota is a great program. I like most of the programs produced by SDPB. Since I was born and raised in South Dakota, particularly now that I am in the winter of my years, I really like the stuff SDPB does: history and stories about people, like The Stavig Letters. So much history, so close to me. Love it! And NOVA has always been a favorite! Frontline, Nature, Masterpiece and the British shows.” How do you watch and listen? “I listen to the radio quite a bit: TED Radio Hour, Wait, Reveal. I’m up with the birds so I love the BBC. I don’t have cable; I have a Roku. Cable, that’s a cajillion dollars a month. I can get PBS with my little digital antenna. And that’s always been the case.”
Why did you become an SDPB supporter? “I think PBS and NPR are investigative. It just seems it’s more intelligent broadcasting. That’s why I’ve always listened. I like to know what’s going on and kind of broaden my views and I just never found that with the big networks. Predominantly, because Judy Woodruff and all those gals, I’ve been watching them for years and many times other sides are presented. Even with Shields & Brooks on the NewsHour, other sides are presented. I feel that they take the time to look into things to make sure they’re saying it right. I really believe they do.”
“My son and I, we would sit and watch Mister Rogers when he was a little kid. I enjoyed the mugs and premiums and stuff, but then I decided, ‘You know, I’m not paying for cable. I get this great programming. And so I’m just going to contribute.’ And then I just thought it’d be easy. And I’ve been a sustaining member now and it’s only 10 bucks a month. And then you get Passport.” “I just think PBS is the greatest. Everyone should watch it. They might be smarter if they did!” Thank you for your support, Judy! You help make SDPB programs possible for all South Dakotans.
The SECURE Act and Charitable Giving In January 2020, President Trump signed the SECURE Act as part of the government’s spending bill. The new law took effect January 1. The intention of the SECURE Act, which stands for “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement” — is to strengthen retirement security. Individuals can now contribute to their IRAs past the age of 70½ to allow more time to save for retirement. The legislation also changed the age at which one must start taking Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from age 70½ to 72. Another
change is for folks who have named someone other than their spouse as the beneficiary of their IRA, they must now withdraw the entire amount within 10 years, as opposed to over their lifetimes. For charitable giving, donors who may not want non-spousal beneficiaries to receive their IRA proceeds within 10 years, a testamentary charitable gift annuity or a testamentary charitable remainder trust may be a solution. According to James Lange, a contributor on retirement for Forbes Magazine, “In many
situations it will make more sense to leave your IRA to a charitable trust than to leave it to your children directly. It is possible, even likely, your children will actually end up with more money than if you left the IRA to a charitable trust than if you left it to them outright. After the SECURE Act many IRA owners that never had a good reason to closely look at a charitable remainder trust as the beneficiary of their IRA should now consider one.” To discuss giving to SDPB from your IRA, please contact Friends at 605-677-5862. April 2020 25
