How Jerry’s Generosity Inspired Others
A humble man, Jerry Whitten enjoyed seeing others thrive.
Inspired by the compassionate care that his wife, Bev, received during the final months of her life, Jerry made a financial gift to express his gratitude for the support they received when they needed it most.
With a new-found passion for end-of-life care and a desire to make a difference, he felt motivated to do something more… something that would encourage others to practice their generosity. On #GivingTuesday, a worldwide social media-based not-for-profit fundraising movement, he decided to promote a matching gift. Jerry’s generosity would double every donation received.
Through the power of social media, Jerry recruited hundreds of others to donate towards his passion—accessible end-of-life care—raising thousands of dollars to ensure that everyone has access to compassionate care.
After seeing how his donation could make a big impact, Jerry updated his will to ensure he could continue supporting end-of-life care, creating a legacy of generosity that will last for years to come.
What will your legacy look like?
August is National Make-A-Will Month, making it the perfect time to draft or update your will.
With thoughtful planning, you can leave a legacy of:
- Care. Having an up-to-date estate plan does more than prepare for good use of your resources. It establishes a plan to ensure that your loved ones are provided for and that any minor children will be raised by the guardian of your choosing. Your legacy can provide protection, provision, and peace.
- Love. For many, an “ethical will” is an important part of their estate planning. An ethical will passes along the riches of the heart. Personal letters, special family stories, affirmations of love, and your own life stories make an ethical will a rich and enduring gift.
- Generosity. What causes and organizations have you felt connected to throughout your life? Planning a legacy gift to ensure expert end-of-life care is accessible is one powerful way to communicate what matters to you and inspire loved ones to think about how they may practice generosity in their own lives.
Find out more about how you can build a powerful legacy through your will. Contact Stephanie Le at 248-346-4253 or sle@hom.org today!
Nearly 70 percent of Americans do not have an up-to-date will.
That means the majority of people you know have yet to get their estates in order.