Society offers options to remember the Red Cross in wills, trusts and other planned gifts

ANCHORAGE, March 6, 2019 — One week ago, the Red Cross of Alaska Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the creation of a local chapter of the American Red Cross Legacy Society. The society will recognize donors who have chosen to make a planned gift commitment to the Red Cross. Planned gifts are those gifts made in a donors’ will or trust, life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and remainder trusts and gifts of real estate, insurance and other assets. 

In 2018, the Board recognized the importance of planned gifts to the future of serving families in Alaska and established the planned giving program. To provide the expertise for planned giving, the Board began working with Carol Eames, Gift Planning Officer of the American Red Cross. Creation of the Alaska Legacy Society was the next step. 

“I’m proud to have played a role in establishing a local Legacy Society to thank donors who have made gift commitments,” said Joseph Gerace, Red Cross of Alaska Board Secretary. This is an important step for our Board and the organization regionally to begin recognizing donors with a special commitment to the Red Cross. Planned giving has the potential to create sustained charitable support for the American Red Cross of Alaska.”

The American Red Cross established the Legacy Society nationally to express appreciation for the committed group of donors who have remembered the Red Cross in their estate plans. Members of this special group share a common bond of philanthropy and vision to provide for the needs of future generations.

The Red Cross honors every donor who has made a planned gift commitment to the Red Cross. Benefits of membership include:

• The satisfaction of making a gift that will demonstrate your commitment to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross and help ensure the long-term strength of the organization for future generations
• The opportunity, for those that agree, for their gift to be publicly recognized, or the option, for those that prefer, to give anonymously
• A Legacy Society lapel pin
• Invitations to Red Cross of Alaska events
• A certificate of appreciation recognizing this outstanding commitment

A planned gift also offers many other potential advantages, including federal estate tax savings, the elimination or reduction of capital gains taxes and the opportunity to increase spendable income.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Anyone who wants to make a planned gift can do so today! For more information or to join the American Red Cross Legacy Society, please contact Carol Eames at (503) 502-5877, toll free at (855) 831-5536 or via email Carol.Eames@redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In FY18, the American Red Cross of Alaska offered food, shelter, comfort and hope to 892 Alaskans. We responded to 308 disasters. Our preparedness/Health and Safety teams installed 2,309 smoke alarms statewide and educated 1,722 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Additionally, our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 1,161 emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Alaska or visit us on Twitter at @redcrossak.

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