Why I Chose to Become a Heritage Society Member
2016 Heritage Society Luncheon
The Heritage Society was created – and its purpose remains today – to honor and thank our generous friends and donors – all of you – who have made a personal commitment now for a gift that will come in the future to PPh. That’s thinking ahead, planning ahead, laying the foundation for tomorrow!
The Heritage Society members share their philanthropy through gifts for which they plan ahead. These types of gifts sometimes are called Planned Giving or Legacy Giving. At PPh, we now like to call it Visionary Philanthropy. It’s really not as complicated as it sounds.
You see, as a non-profit organization, PPh accepts many forms of contributions, including gifts of real estate, life insurance policies, and stock transfers. We have received kind donations such as these in the past, and those donors are Heritage Society members. Likewise, one of the most common methods for a planned gift is to bequeath PPh in your Will. Again, by remembering PPh in your will, you become a Heritage Society member.
In addition, some donors consider their contributions as an investment. Further, some folks may need to generate some income through their investments. Donations to PPh in the form of a Charitable Gift Annuity or CGA provide a lifetime income to the donor, and upon their passing, the remainder of the charitable gift is transferred to PPh. Again, we have received these type of gifts from very generous donors, and they too are Heritage Society members.
Regardless how one becomes a member of the PPh Heritage Society, we all have one thing in common, which is a deep and personal commitment to our mission and compassion toward others. Even if we do not know whom the people are we are helping, we know there are others in need and that our blessings when shared with others, in turn bless us as well.
The annual luncheon to honor and thank all current members of The Heritage Society, and to welcome new members into it, was held on Wednesday, October 19, in the PPh Social Hall.
The event’s keynote speaker, Jewell Coyle is PPh’s longest-tenured resident for nearly 30 years now; Jewell’s mother was a resident here at PPh before her. She and her husband, who has passed on, have raised three sons and one daughter. She also has a Master’s Degree from Temple University. She is one of the most dynamic and interesting people you will ever meet.
Below is Jewell Coyle’s keynote address on why she chose to become a member of The Heritage Society.
“I was asked to talk today about why I chose to become a Heritage Society member as a way to support PPh. Well, I thought it was simply “the right thing to do.” So I went to share this thought with Pastor Jack Price, our Chaplain at PPh. He asked me, “Why is it the right thing to do?” I spent sleepless nights trying to justify my statement – It’s the right thing to do.
When I was young, the terms “Recession” or “Depression” were not mentioned in front of me. As a child of a government employee, you’re neither sick nor poor. I, however, did learn “Sharing” at home. My clothes were passed down to other families with young girls who needed them. Food was taken periodically to friends. I simply thought sharing was what everyone did!
As I grew older, the terms “Charity” and “Generosity” were learned as well. I’m sure you, too, were taught these values in Sunday School, Catechism Classes and Hebrew School. It is important to me to continue to practice the beliefs I learned as a child, and to pass those beliefs onto other generations. Heritage Society members truly set a great example for others.
I also want to say that I feel very confident leaving a portion of my savings to PPh and giving annually to PPh. PPh was established 126 years ago, and I know the money will be put to good use, and I know I can trust the people who are here delivering our mission to our residents. Trust is a big part of the equation when someone makes a legacy or visionary gift. You have to have faith and trust in the future!
And I trust PPh to do the right thing. PPh is an organization where I know I can openly and honestly communicate my wishes as a donor in terms of how I would like my contribution to be directly used.
And you can too. You can give so that others may be helped. As I said, it’s simply the right thing to do!” – Jewell Coyle, PPh Resident & Heritage Society member.
During this year’s luncheon, two members were inducted into the 26th Class of The Heritage Society. Grace Gault, a former PPh Resident was inducted posthumously who, although we were not previously aware, had remembered PPh in her will. The second member welcomed into the 26th Class of The Heritage Society is PPh resident, Sarah Unrath.
PPh is blessed to have a Heritage Society to plant the seeds for our future and to have the caring heart and visionary mind to make a legacy gift today that builds our tomorrows. Thank you to each and every one of our generous and kind Heritage Society members.