A legacy gift is a planned donation to a social profit, given through a will or other designation. Each person can make this decision in their financial planning process, taking into account their charitable wishes and values.
Consider leaving a legacy with the Northern Lights Health Foundation. A legacy gift is a wonderful way to ensure the continued health and wellness of those living in our community for generations to come.
Every legacy gift, regardless of the amount, makes a significant impact on patients receiving health care services in our region.
Making a will, no matter what your age or estate value, is both a caring and sensible thing to do. Here’s why:
A bequest is a gift of cash or property that you make in your will. It is one of the most common ways that individuals choose to give a future or legacy gift to the Health Foundation. It usually takes one of two forms:
A bequest to the Health Foundation can also provide a tax benefit to your estate. The estate will get a tax receipt for the full value of the bequest. That receipt will reduce the tax payable by the estate. If the total receipt cannot be used for tax purposes on the donor's final tax return, the excess may be carried back to the previous tax year and used to claim a refund.
Wills can be complex and should be drafted with the help of a lawyer. A lawyer, tax accountant or estate planner can help you set up your will to minimize taxes and probate fees on your estate.
If you are thinking of including the Health Foundation in your will, we would like to meet with you or your lawyer to review the terms of the bequest, particularly if it is restricted, to ensure that we will be able to comply with your wishes.
For more information on how you can leave a legacy to the Health Foundation, please contact us or check out the information and tutorials here: Will Power Northern Lights Health Foundation.
Fort McMurray was home to John MacDougall for nearly 40 years. He was known as an educator in the community, an active, engaged citizen and a happy, healthy and helpful man. In October 2012, his life took an unexpected turn and he faced many challenges after receiving the diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. There were options for treatment in Alberta, but rather than head to Edmonton, John chose to stay in his home community and battle his illness. He felt it was important to remain home, close to friends and family, during this time.
John’s sister Veronica says, “John was active in the community and taught at Good Sheppard Elementary School for years. As a teacher, he felt he had been given many opportunities and considered himself to be one of the luckier residents here. He always had great enthusiasm for the city of Fort McMurray. He was healthy. He did not stray from this way of living when life put a burden in front of him. My brother John shouldered it, like many things in his life, by being reasonable and looking at the challenge he faced straight in the eye.” Veronica shared that John’s siblings were overwhelmed and is disbelief over his diagnosis. John was eventually hospitalized.
“From the outset of his diagnosis, he received the best care possible. Our family appreciated the kindness and care expressed to him throughout his ordeal. We have the utmost respect for Dr. Van Heerde and the rest of the medical staff who took care of him. Everyone was wonderful with him and he recognized some of the nurses who he had taught. Sadly, he passed away only a few weeks after his diagnosis on November 6th, 2012, but the medical team made his final weeks as comfortable as it could have been for him,” says Veronica.
John had a strong faith in his religion and a strong personal sense of obligation to give back to his local community, which he did so in many ways throughout his life. He named the Northern Lights Health Foundation in his will.
Thank you John. Your gift leaves a legacy for health care locally.