Giving a legacy

We’ve come a long way since our founding in 1986. At that time, our commitment was to provide nutritious meals to a small group of men with HIV/AIDS. In 2009, Open Arms prepared and delivered 313,000 meals to more than 1,100 men and women living with HIV/AIDS, ALS, breast cancer, and MS, as well as their caregivers and dependents.

That growth is due in strong part to the persistent generosity of our donors and volunteers — gifts that we do not take for granted.

Indeed, the economic crisis we continue to experience as a country has made us all aware that we can’t simply assume ongoing financial health. The lesson we have learned — both personally and organizationally — is that we can never be certain that today’s funding will be here tomorrow.

We understand that our friends and donors feel that same uncertainty.

For that reason, we have created The Kitchen Table, a planned giving program. Joining it allows you to make a meaningful gift that will sustain our endeavors for the future, while preserving the financial goals you have for yourself and your family.

Here are four simple ways to support our kitchen table:

Gifts by will or living trust may be made in cash, securities, real estate or tangible personal property.

Checking, Savings or Brokerage Account Remainder Gifts

Naming Open Arms as the beneficiary of your savings, checking or brokerage account allows you to maintain full access to your assets during your lifetime ­­— and then transfer the remainder.

Life Insurance or Retirement Asset Gifts

Designating a portion or the remainder of your retirement account residuals or insurance policy benefit allows you to make a significant endowment to Open Arms without affecting your current cash flow.

Life Income Gifts

There are several solutions that allow you to make a charitable gift in return for an income to you and/or a loved one for life, passing the remainder to Open Arms.

Contact  Jennifer Van Wyk, Deputy Director, for more information, or visit with your advisor or attorney for next steps.

Thank you for thinking of Open Arms today, tomorrow and in the future.