Letter from Southeast Tennessee Executive Director, Julia Wright - February 2018

What will be your legacy?  Good or bad, each of us will leave a legacy. Your legacy is about how you want to be remembered and what lessons you can pass onto the next generation.  

So where do I start to building my legacy?  Like most things, it starts with a plan.  The Red Cross has made it easy.  You can download a free Guide and Workbook for Will Planning and Charitable Giving at www.redcrosslegacy.org  to get you started.  It has a 4 step plan that walks you through the process and prepares you to meet with your planner. The guide will help you understand the importance of a will; gather information you need to write or update your will; discover ways to minimize taxes and liabilities for your family; and explore the benefits of making charitable gifts in your will or other gift plan.

Absolutely one of the most effective methods of gifting is a legacy plan. The most popular way is to remember the Red Cross in the giver's will. It is surprising how many people think this is only something for the wealthy. This is where our advisers do their best work.

It isn't easy to find advice for the “right thing to do” for each person and one size does not fit all, but every gift counts.  You can contact our local gift adviser, Gary Key at 1-404-556-6660 who can share with you the many options the Red Cross has available. He can assist you in meeting your individual goals in building your legacy. There is no cost for these services and just having someone qualified to answer all questions and tailor a plan to your fit budget and long term goals is invaluable in taking the stress off making such an important decision.

One of the biggest questions everyone is asking is how do the new tax laws effect charitable giving and the way in which they do it to make it count for them and for the Red Cross. The Red Cross giving advisers will also help callers understand the changes in the new tax laws to formulate the best plan for them.

This is a wonderful way to help the community we live and work in, and to possibly put them in a better position tax-wise at the end of every year. There are certainly many organizations worthy of charitable gifts but the reach and scope of American Red Cross services is so encompassing that a gift of support covers so much more than most people ever think.

Spread the word that giving to the American Red Cross is an easy and very rewarding experience.