During our lifetimes, many of us need assistance, whether it is physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual. Since 1850, Jewish Family and Children's Services has been here to provide that assistance and to perform acts of loving kindness. We plan to continue long into the future, knowing that help will always be needed.

Doing Good While Staying in Control

Establishing a bequest to JFCS allows you to maintain total control of your assets during your lifetime and yet act upon your desire to help others and give back to our community. A bequest is simply a distribution from your estate, through your last will or living trust, of cash, marketable securities, or other property. A bequest to JFCS can be made for a specific amount, for a percentage of your estate, or for all or a portion of what is left after you have made specific bequests to your family and others.

What Are the Benefits?

• Making a Statement about What Is Important to You.

• Making a Bigger Impact. A bequest may allow you to make a much larger gift than you are able to consider during your lifetime.

• Honoring or Memorializing a Loved One. You can use your bequest to establish an endowed Named Fund that carries in perpetuity your name or the name of someone you wish to honor.

• Enhancing the Value of Your Estate. Bequests enable you to minimize taxes for your estate and heirs. As with other financial decisions, it is important to consult legal and financial counsel to maximize the benefits of your estate.

• Determining Your Legacy Yourself, Rather than Letting the Government Decide. A bequest to JFCS allows you to decide what your legacy will be and the kind of impact you make. You can earmark your bequest to help in an area that is of greatest concern to you: e.g., for special needs children ... for legal and support services for people with disabilities ... for emergency assistance for those in crisis ... for home care for frail elderly ... or simply for use where most needed. You can specify that your bequest create an endowment to last in perpetuity or to be used to meet current needs at the time your estate is settled.

How to create your bequest to JFCS:

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