Leave a Legacy
Make a Lasting Difference

With the help of generous contributions of time, blood, and money from the America people, the Red Cross touches the lives of thousands of people right here in western Massachusetts. By making a donation of any kind, you can help the Red Cross to continue to provide essential services to those who really need the help the most.

The Key to Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Surveys show that only four out of ten Americans have a current will. By making a will, you are able to improve and stabilize the financial security of yourself and your family, and can also make a difference by giving a gift to a charitable organization. Many of our supporters make charitable gifts by naming the American Red Cross as a beneficiary in their wills.

Here is the language you should use in your will if you wish to leave money to the Pioneer Valley chapter of the American Red Cross:

I give, devise, and bequeath to the American Red Cross for the benefit of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter the sum of _____ (or otherwise describe the gift or specify a percentage of your estate).

To receive a free copy of A Guide to Wills and Estate Planning contact Paige Thayer at the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter  at (413) 233-1003 or email her at thayerpa@usa.redcross.org

Why have a will?

A will is extremely important for many different reasons, it can:

• Permit you to appoint the persons who will handle your estate or serve as guardians to your children.
• Designate who will receive the property you have accumulated over your lifetime.
• Set up a trust that provides financial security and money management for family members.
• Assist friends, worthwhile causes, institutions and others that the law permits.
• Minimize estate taxes and other costs that could possibly deplete your estate of vital assets.
• Allow you to memorialize a special person in your life.

Creating a will is neither difficult nor expensive. Yet, the rewards are great indeed, both in peace of mind and in personal satisfaction of knowing you have helped future generations.

There are three different ways in which you can make a bequest:

A Specific Request - you designate a specific dollar amount, specific percentage, or specific property to the American Red Cross.

A Residual Request - your estate will pay all debts, taxes, expenses, and specific bequests. The remaining amount--the residue--will be transferred to the American Red Cross.

A Contingent Request - You can ask that the American Red Cross receive all or a portion of your estate only under certain circumstances. For example, you can name the Red Cross as a beneficiary of your estate only if there are no surviving close family members. Childless couples sometimes provide for the entire estate to go to the surviving spouse, or if the spouse does not survive, to the Red Cross.

If you already have a will:

To make a change, a simple codicil (amendment) often is all that is needed to add a charitable designation. It only takes a couple of minutes to leave a lasting legacy.

Charitable Gift Annuities

The American Red Cross charitable gift annuity pays you guaranteed income for life at an attractive rate, offers tax savings, and frees you from investment worries and responsibilities. Through your annuity you can make a meaningful gift to support the services and programs of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter.

Your Gift Annuity offers five distinct benefits:

• Personal Satisfaction - It feels good to make a gift of lasting significance to aid those in your area.
• Income for Life - Attractive income rates are available for various gift options.
• Tax Deduction Savings - A large part of what you transfer is deductible.
• Tax-Free Income - A large part of your annual payments are tax-free return on principal.
• Capital Gains Tax Savings - When you contribute securities for a gift annuity, you minimize any taxes on your "paper profit."

Call or email Paige Thayer at (413) 233-1003  thayerpa@usa.redcross.org for a free personalized gift annuity illustration.

For more info visit http://www.redcrosslegacy.org/GIFTcharitg.php

Charitable Remainder Trust

A charitable remainder trust is an attractive planning tool for the disposal of highly appreciated assets that provide a low return. You can avoid capital gains taxes, lower your income taxes, and earn higher returns while giving to the American Red Cross.

This life income plan is created by transferring assets to a trust that pays you (and another beneficiary, if you wish) income for life. At the end of the trust, the remaining trust assets are transferred to the Red Cross. A bank or trusted advisor can serve as trustee.

For more info visit www.redcross.org/donate/plngiv/

Charitable Lead Trust

If you want to minimize estate and gift taxes on assets you intend to leave to your children or grandchildren, particularly when significant assets are expected to appreciate, you may want to consider a charitable lead trust.

Individuals with very large estates can use a charitable lead trust to benefit the American Red Cross and pass principal to family members with little or no tax penalty. It works like this: You transfer assets to a trust that provides payments to the Red Cross for a term of years. Then the trust principal goes to your children, grandchildren, or others free of, or at greatly reduced, federal gift and estate tax.

For more info visit http://www.redcrosslegacy.org/GIFTcharitlead.php

Pooled Income Fund

Your gift of money, marketable securities, or both to the American Red Cross's pooled income fund is invested together with similar gifts from other supporters. Each year, you receive your share, which is taxable as ordinary income, of the fund's earning.

For more info visit http://www.redcrosslegacy.org/GIFTpooled.php

Gifts of Retirement Plans

Many individuals today have large qualified retirement plans that have been growing tax-free for years. Once the owner begins to receive payments from the qualified plans, the distributions are taxed. The plans are also included in the owner\0xD5s taxable estate.

When you have accumulated funds in a company plan or an IRA beyond your needs for a comfortable retirement, a gift may be made to the Red Cross from such an account. This gift made by will, can lower estate taxes through the charitable deduction it provides.

For more info visit http://www.redcrosslegacy.org/GIFTretirement.php

Gifts of Life Insurance

Some of our supporters no longer need their life insurance that was purchased years ago to provide for children or other family members. If that is your situation, please consider donating the policy to the American Red Cross. You may claim a charitable deduction for approximately the policy's cash value, and the proceeds are completely removed from your estate.

For more info visit http://www.redcrosslegacy.org/GIFTinsurance.php

It is through the generosity of gifts like yours that millions of people are served by the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross provides this information as a service only. Please consult with your own tax advisor and/or lawyer when preparing your estate plans. The financial benefits of gifts to the Red Cross depend on your situation, but the opportunity to make a difference is always great.

Additional information can also be obtained by contacting Paige Thayer at the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter  at (413) 233-1003 or emailing her at thayerpa@usa.redcross.org