“It makes me happy to know that my savings will be used for such noble work.”

Written by Rachelle Linner, Legacy Donor

Two years ago I updated my will. When I met with my Fidelity advisor to name BHCHP the sole beneficiary of my 401K retirement plan (a very easy process) he asked, “why is it important to you to support them?” I told him that I respected the holistic, patient-centered medicine they practiced. But as I pondered his question over the next few days, I realized that it was almost inevitable that I would connect with BHCHP.

One of the most formative experiences of my life was the seven years I spent with the Community for Creative Nonviolence in Washington, D.C. which paired nonviolent activism with direct service to the homeless through a soup kitchen, hospitality house, and free medical clinic. I’ve never lost my awareness of the needs of the homeless. When I underwent treatment for cancer, I asked myself “What would it be like to receive chemo if I had no home?”

I’m sometimes surprised to realize how many of my volunteer commitments are focused on health and healing. I’ve been a hospital Eucharistic minister and hospice volunteer. When I owned a home in East Boston, I was a host with Hospitality Homes, a wonderful nonprofit that offers housing for patients and families who come to Boston for medical care. I am a patient peer mentor with Cancer Hope Network. As a trained spiritual director I regularly meet with people who are dealing with the diminishments and vulnerabilities of aging.

Charitable giving has been a nonnegotiable part of my budget for my entire working life; experience has shown me the truth of the advice from Ecclesiastes that if one casts one’s bread on the water, it will be returned. I used to give to a variety of small, grassroots, direct service organizations. One year, browsing in a local yarn shop, I saw a mention of a knitting project at Barbara McInnis House. I looked at the website and spontaneously sent a large check to BHCHP—something I would not normally do with a group I didn’t know. A follow-up letter led to a phone conversation and an onsite visit. I was hooked and from then on and have donated almost exclusively to BHCHP.

One reason for my commitment, beyond my evident respect for the superb care BHCHP offers, is my admiration for and friendship with the development staff. There’s probably some envy mixed in this, too: I’ve never had a paying job that allowed me to serve others with such clarity of purpose. Theirs is an almost palpable commitment to the patients, staff and mission of BHCHP. It’s infectious. I’m pleased to have named BHCHP as the sole beneficiary of my retirement plan. I gladly encourage others to do the same. It makes me happy to know that my savings will be used for such noble work.

If you would like to support BHCHP but cannot make a donation at this time, please consider including BHCHP in your will or trust. A bequest gift supports BHCHP without depleting your current income or assets. It is flexible as you can revise your gift at any time and it may reduce your estate taxes. You can also designate BHCHP as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, donor advised fund, brokerage account or life insurance policy.

If you are age 70.5 or older, you can make a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA or Roth IRA and avoid paying income tax on the distribution. It is a wonderful way to see the impact of your giving during your lifetime.

When you name BHCHP in your will or a designated beneficiary of your retirement plan, you will be invited to join the Dennis Buff Legacy Society, named in honor of the first patient to make a bequest to our program. You can read more about his remarkable story on our website.

Recently, Mary M. Perry joined BHCHP as our Director of Major Gifts, including our Gift Planning program. Mary, an attorney, brings over 25 years of development experience in major gifts and gift planning; including work at two Boston area hospitals and nearly two decades at Harvard Medical School. She has been a longtime member, mentor, and board President of the Planned Giving Group of New England and, has been supportive of our development efforts over the years. She invites you to contact her with any questions and looks forward to collaborating with you. Mary can be reached at mperry@bhchp.org or 857.654.1048.