Supporters Like You

Our legacy journey began long ago, with a relative who was an estate planner. Having wills in place simply felt like part of caring for our family. But as the years passed, our perspective deepened. With age came a growing sense of gratitude for the blessings of faith, family, and stability. We realized it was time not only to update our plans, but to ensure they reflected the values that have shaped our lives. As we accumulated assets, we wanted to share them with charities that were meaningful to us. We started by listing the organizations we supported and prioritizing the ones closest to our hearts. With the guidance of a trusted attorney, we crafted an estate plan that honored both our family and our charitable commitments.

We found the process was more approachable than we expected. Identifying our goals came easily; the harder part was projecting our future financial needs in retirement. After thoughtful conversations with financial advisors, we chose amounts that felt both responsible and generous. Completing our plans brought a deep sense of reassurance. We felt secure knowing our needs were met, while still fulfilling our Christian desire to give beyond our lifetime. Including charitable gifts was a natural extension of our values—we’ve always believed in supporting organizations that improve the lives of those less fortunate.

One experience in particular shaped our decision to include CRS in our estate plans. Through the Archdiocese of Seattle, we learned more about CRS’ work and later visited a parish-supported mission in Malawi. There, we met CRS staff—local experts who understood their community’s needs firsthand. Seeing the projects in action made a lasting impression on us. That incredible hands-on experience showed us the impact CRS has. We knew we wanted to support that work into the future.

Our advice for anyone hesitating to create a will is simple: Take the first step! Working with a qualified attorney is often more affordable than expected, and a well-crafted plan can save money and stress later. Most importantly, it ensures that your loved ones—and the causes you care about—are supported according to your wishes.

For us, knowing our values will continue to guide future generations is a profound comfort. We try to be Christian role models. We’ve explained to our sons—and soon to our grandchildren—that living your values means acting on them.

Thank you for reading about our experience. We hope it makes your decision a little easier.

As time went on, we donated what we could. The more we learned about CRS, the more we knew CRS was a favorite charity. We learned how trustworthy CRS is and how carefully they manage their resources and allocate funds. We also learned how necessary donations are for CRS—allowing them to move quickly during an emergency.

Just recently, we began to think about how we could still help even after we are gone by leaving a legacy gift. We made our legacy plans and included CRS as a beneficiary to our IRA. 

We were pleased to learn that CRS’ planned giving team has the resources to smoothly navigate IRA giving. Knowing our money will be in capable hands doing such good work long into the future is a blessing—we know the money will be used thoughtfully and wisely on our behalf.  

Our message to you today is a humble wish—that you will consider leaving a legacy gift to CRS in your plans. We know this is a very personal decision for you. Before we decided, we discussed it at length. We walked through the pros and cons. We knew this was a way to give a larger amount than we give now, and it will make a substantial difference to others in the future. 

If you have a call to do even more to help our vulnerable sisters and brothers around the world, leaving a legacy gift is a smart way to give more later. The CRS Planned Giving team will walk you through your options without pressure—just reach out to them.

I hope you will join us and make a legacy gift that will have meaningful impact—long beyond your lifetime.

I knew that charitable donations are a great way to help others while also being a tax deduction, so I identified several organizations that were highly rated as good stewards of a donor’s money. CRS was near the top of the list, which made my decision clear—I would use CRS as one of the ways I could make an even bigger difference. 

When I reached the age for required minimum IRS distributions, I began to give to CRS through a qualified charitable distribution. For me, it was simple. There’s no itemizing and more of my gift goes to work—without extra taxes. Unlike cash gifts, QCDs don’t need to be itemized to provide a tax benefit, a fact some folks overlook.

Eventually, I began thinking about the legacy of my life and the difference it could make. I spoke to my estate-planning attorney and decided to leave a gift to CRS in my will. Their philosophy of “don’t just give someone a fish—teach them how to fish” resonates with me greatly. My decision gives me peace of mind, knowing I’ll help good work continue.

Because you already support CRS and believe in its mission—I encourage you to consider including a gift to CRS in your estate plans. The CRS Planned Giving team will walk you through your options without pressure—just reach out to them. The opportunities your gift can bring after you are gone have unlimited possibilities.

Thank you for caring about CRS’ work as much as I do. It’s encouraging to know so many of us believe in this mission.

As time went on, we decided to leave a gift to CRS in our will. It’s comforting to know that we will continue in some way to have a positive impact on others around the world after we are gone.

In 2022, we traveled to the West Bank and witnessed the daily hardships faced by the people there. This made our giving decisions even more meaningful. We know there is a great deal of suffering in the world, but through CRS, we’ve seen that we can make a difference—today and into the future.

I hope our story will inspire you to consider including a gift to CRS in your will. It is hard to find a better cause. If you have a call to help and you want to do more, their Planned Giving team will walk you through your options and make it easy for you to decide—without pressure!

I sincerely hope you will join Tony and me by making a gift in your will that can feed the hungry and heal the sick beyond your lifetime.