Lessons in Legacy: Retired teachers join Shaw Society

When two lifelong Akron residents met with attorney Sheri Peters to talk about their estate plans, they knew they wanted charitable giving to be part of their plan. 

As retired educators with no children of their own, the donors care deeply about providing educational opportunities for students. They also have several other charitable interest areas connected to their personal experiences, including disaster recovery and women's causes. In particular, one of the donors grew up with a single mother during a time when there was not a lot of support for single women, so they would like to give back to women facing a similar situation. Growing up in that environment also taught them the importance of budgeting and making a dollar stretch, so it's no surprise that the couple wanted to find a way to make their gift last beyond a one-time impact. 

Sheri had a solution for them: creating a charitable fund at Akron Community Foundation through their will. While they discussed the option of leaving gifts through a trust, she explained that a fund at the community foundation would give them the flexibility to change the causes they want to benefit in the future, while also helping their gift endure long after their lifetimes. This was an A+ idea for the couple, who then met with the foundation's staff to get the process started and become members of the Edwin C. Shaw Society.

Learn more about the variety of ways you can make an impact with your own legacy gift.