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D I O C E S E O F C O L O R A D O S P R I N G S O F F I C E O F P L A N N E D G I V I N G

PLANNING MATTERS

Inspirational Stories, News and Charitable Giving Strategies

What is Your Catholic Legacy?By Peggy Cusick, CFRE Director of Planned Giving

Have you ever thought to yourself… “What is my Catholic legacy?” It’s a very interesting question, and if you really think about it, you’ll find that your answer will be interesting, too.

If you’re like me, being Catholic is very much a part of who you are. You’re grateful for the rich heritage of faith passed down to us by our families, our schools and the many ministries of the Church. You believe in the Church’s mission and want to see it continue to grow and prosper, especially here in Colorado. For many of us, there’s a compelling need to make a difference that leads us to think about our Catholic legacy.

A bequest is perhaps the easiest and most tangible way to leave a lasting impact on the people and ministries that mean the most to you. Do you care about your parish, a Catholic school or Catholic Charities of Central Colorado? Are you passionate about advocating for the unborn or for vocations? Whatever ministry you care about, you can leave a legacy lasting generations with a bequest, a statement in your will or estate plan to provide a charitable gift after your death. It’s a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime. In this issue of Planning Matters, you’ll read stories of how people like you and me are creating their Catholic legacy with a bequest.

Also inside, you’ll see a special invitation from Bishop Sheri-dan to join The Catholic Legacy Society: an extraordinary circle of the Diocese’s most dedicated benefactors, whose legacy gifts are a reflection of their love and gratitude for the Church.

Remember, your Catholic legacy is a lasting testimony of your faith and values. It just takes a little planning!

READ INSIDE:Inspiring personal stories

Five smart planning ideas for you

A special invitation to join The Catholic Legacy Society

Peggy Cusick

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Page 2 Planning Matter s

Wayne and Suzanne Gibbons have always volunteered in their churches and their

communities. She taught English as a Second Language to immigrants, he helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Together they’ve collected food, clothes and furniture for those who need it and volunteered at soup kitchens.

“Like everyone else, we haven’t had a perfect life. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve been blessed and now want to make sure we’re doing what really matters,” said Wayne, a retired Air Force Sargeant.

Suzanne and Wayne, both 67, recently updated their will and made a bequest to the Diocese of Colorado Springs to be used for very specific purposes—providing financial assistance to the poorest parish in the diocese, helping the elderly who have no one to care for them, and supporting Right to Life activities.

“There are older people who are alone and sick. They have no one to advocate for them. No one who visits them,” said Suzanne, a former teacher. “Jesus taught

us to help and by making a bequest to the Church, that helps.”

The Gibbonses hope other people realize how easy it is to include a bequest in their estate plans, a term Suzanne thinks sounds “like it’s not for everyone.”

“But it is,” said Suzanne. “Even if you’re like us, middle class people on a fixed income—what you have—that’s your estate.”

“People put off making a will,” said Wayne. “But it’s important to make a plan and it feels good to know that what you’ve worked for will be put to good use.”

Married since July 20, 1969 (the day before Apollo 11 landed on the moon), Suzanne and Wayne have two grown daughters and have lived in Colorado Springs since 1989. They met in 1965 while attending a Methodist college in Indiana.

“We were two Catholic kids in the Newman Club,” said Suzanne.

“I thought to myself, she looks very interesting,” said Wayne.

“…and pretty.”

Everyday People Making a Difference

SHARE YOUR BEQUEST

“We didn’t have much to give when we were younger... so we gave our time.”

Is your parish already in your will? Please let us know! Even if you wish for your gift to remain anonymous, this information helps your parish plan for the future. Don’t have a will? You’re not alone! Now is a great time to make a plan and many Catholic estate planning attorneys in the area will offer a reduced rate for parishioners making a bequest to the Church. For more information, please contact the Office of Planned Giving.

Suzanne and Wayne Gibbons, Catholic Legacy Society members

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Planning Matter s Page 3

Everyday People Making a Difference

Like many couples in their 30s, Heidi and Ethan Rec-tor are busy. They both

work, are raising two daughters, are expecting a third child this fall and are active in their parish, Sacred Heart Church in Colorado Springs. Looking back at the early summer of 2012, they considered themselves “very blessed.”

Then came the fire.

On June 23, 2012, the Waldo Canyon fire began, eventually destroying 346 homes, including the Rectors’ rental home in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood. With their daughters Kailey, now 10, and Samantha, now 4, Heidi and Ethan quickly packed some personal possessions into their two cars and fled to the safety of Ethan’s mother’s home.

With their family unharmed and intact, the Rectors felt truly blessed, thanks in great part to their church community, including Ethan’s fellow Knights of Columbus. While the family was “crammed into” Ethan’s mother’s small townhouse, Father Bob Epping called and asked Ethan and Heidi to see him after the next Sunday’s Mass at Sacred Heart.

“When we stopped by, Father Bob handed us a check for $1,000. An anonymous donor had contacted Father Bob, hoping to help a family

with children,” said Heidi Rector, a nurse at Penrose Hospital in down-town Colorado Springs.

“It was just amazing. I cried.”

Now, back on their feet, in a new home they purchased and awaiting the arrival of their third child, the Rectors are making plans for the future. Those plans include giving back to Sacred Heart Church in a very meaningful way that doesn’t affect their budget.

They made a bequest of life insurance.

“We chose life insurance because for many families like ours, there’s not a lot of money sitting in the bank, and we’re just get-ting started on building a retirement fund. But giving the gift of a small policy is easy because the premiums are easy to budget,” said Ethan, an estate and business planning attorney, who notes that another option is to make a gift with a percentage of a larger policy.

“The process was extremely simple and straight for-ward,” said Ethan. They obtained a beneficiary desig-

nation form from their insurance provider and designated the Sacred Heart Parish Endowment Fund as beneficiary. In doing so, “Sacred Heart will continue to receive our support in perpetuity,” said Ethan. “We wanted to give our religious leaders the support necessary to continue to serve our fellow parish-ioners and the community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Ethan, who notes that his 4-year old daughter Samantha has autism.

“The Church was there for us. We always want to be there for them.”

Did you know that if you leave your IRA, 401k or other retirement plan to your family or heirs, up to 70% of the value could be lost to taxes? Consider this: if you leave your plan to an eligible charity, like your parish, every hard-earned dollar will be put to good use.

BENEFICIARY NEWS: Important Information About Your Retirement Plan

Thankful For Their BlessingsBequest of Life Insurance Supports a Parish Endowment Fund

Ethan and Heidi Rector, Catholic Legacy Society members with daughters Kailey, left and Samantha




What’s a meaningful yet simple way to make a difference in the world?

Make a bequest. You’ve probably heard the term before, but in my job, I hear this question quite a bit:

What exactly is a bequest?

A charitable bequest is language written in your will or trust that di-rects a gift to be made to a qualified, tax-exempt charity when you pass away. A bequest enables you to fur-ther the good work of your parish or favorite ministry for generations to come. One great benefit is bequests are “revocable gifts” you can change at any time.

With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to family, friends or a favorite ministry as part of your estate plan. A bequest may be a percentage of your estate, a gift of a specific asset or the residue of your estate.

Bequests in a will or trust are the most common, but other options are popular, too. Some don’t require an attorney! You can make a bequest with an insurance policy by naming

your parish (or other ministry) as beneficiary. Simply contact your insurance company for a beneficiary designation form.

Another “lawyer free” way to make a bequest is with a retirement plan. Retirement plan assets are generally the most heavily taxed asset upon death. Consider leaving those assets tax-free to the Church. On a per-sonal note, my husband Conor and I designated the St. Paul Parish En-dowment Fund as beneficiary of part of our IRAs. All it took was a phone call to the IRA provider and a few minutes to fill out a simple change of beneficiary form.

Did you know your parish has an endowment? That’s a permanent fund to provide unrestricted annu-al income for anything the parish may need, like church repairs and improvements, new ministries–and yes, a new roof in the future! Please consider making a bequest to support your parish’s endowment. If you are passionate about Catholic education, consider supporting one of our Catholic school endowment funds or perhaps the Seminary Burse Endowment Fund. Catholic Char-

Create Your Legacy with a BequestBy Peggy Cusick, CFRE, Director of Planned Giving

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

A Catholic Legacy Story In his 50 years of serving God, Father Gerald Bruggeman gave many people a special

gift; the gift of time, sharing it with anyone who needed help. After retiring as pastor of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in 1994, Father Jerry ministered to patients and families at Penrose-St. Francis Hospital and other healthcare facilities, offering the Sacraments and comfort.

Father Jerry passed away in 2011 and left two very special gifts in his will. He made a bequest to The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Colorado Springs to be used for general good works and also made a bequest to the Priest Retirement Fund through the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Thanks to Father Jerry, these wonderful gifts will benefit many people for generations to come.

ities has several endowment funds too. You can visit www.TheCatholic LegacySociety.org to see a full list of other endowments you may like to support either today, or as a part of your estate plan.

As Director of Planned Giving, I have a wonderful job -- to help you create your own, personal Catholic legacy. I look forward to hearing from you! Please call or email with any questions or to set up a time for a confidential conver-sation. We also have a redesigned website with more information and a wonderful video featuring seven bequest donors. Please visit www.TheCatholicLegacySociety.org.

Peggy Cusick, CFRE Director of Planned Giving Diocese of Colorado Springs 719-866-6518, [email protected]



SHARE YOUR NEWS!

1. Bequest through your Will or TrustYou can name your parish or the Diocese of Colorado Springs in your estate plans. This meaningful gift costs nothing today and you can always update your plans if your situation changes.

2. Bequest of Life InsuranceLife changes and so can the ben-eficiary of your life insurance. If you haven’t updated your plan in a while, consider naming your par-ish or the diocese as a beneficiary (partial or full). You can also make an outright donation of your policy and receive a tax deduction now.

3. Bequest of Retirement Plan AssetsIf you leave a retirement plan to your family or heirs, much of your hard-earned dollars could be lost to taxes. If you name your parish or other 501(c)(3) charity as beneficiary– 100% of the residual value will go tax-free to the cause you care about.

4. Charitable Gifts from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA)If you’re 70 ½ or better, you may be able to make a gift from your IRA to your parish. An IRA rollover is an easy way for you to redirect IRA income to the Church and enjoy valuable tax savings. Ask your advisor about the latest news on this

legislation-pending way to give or visit TheCatholicLegacySociety.org/IRARollover.

5. The Gift that Pays you IncomeIf you’re interested in receiving retirement income now, or later, The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Colorado Springs offers a Charitable Gift Annuity and a Deferred Gift Annuity. You’ll receive guaranteed income for life and a tax deduction. Payments may be much higher than your return on low-earning securities and CD’s. To receive a personalized illustration of how a gift annuity would work for you, please return the enclosed reply card.

If you made a bequest to any Catholic organization in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, please let us know! We’d like to thank you and welcome you into The Catholoc Legacy Society. Simply complete the enclosed reply card or contact the Office of Planned Giving at (719) 866-6518.

Five Smart Ways You Can Create Your Catholic LegacyCHARITABLE GIVING STRATEGIES

Many people who support the Church say they derive great satisfaction from their generosity and they’d like to do more. Here are some smart ideas to consider.





Sometimes, just a few hundred dollars stand in the way of a child and a chance.

“If a family wants their child to have a Catholic school education, and they can’t afford it, that’s a shame,” said Don Cloud.

His wife Pat agrees.

“Catholic school is a great opportu-nity and the best chance some children have to succeed in life.”

In 2006, these Colorado natives decided to “make a lasting differ-ence,” and set up a special fund to provide yearly scholarships for students at St. Mary’s High School. The Cloud Family Fund is what’s known as an endowed fund and is a permanent source of annual income that will always provide scholarships for St. Mary’s students with financial need.

“Going to Catholic school shouldn’t be a financial struggle,” said Don. “Unfortunately, for some families, it’s a struggle. I feel like if you can help, you should.”

The Clouds hope to encourage others to set up an endowed fund or contribute to an existing one support-ing a parish or other ministry of the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

“If you care deeply about the future of the Catholic Church, this is a really good thing to do,” said Pat.

Mind, Heart and Spirit

Don and Pat say they’ve received some “fantastic” thank you notes

from students. Here’s a portion of one…

Thank youI would like to thank you for providing my family with financial

aid to allow me and my sister to continue our St. Mary’s careers.

I have grown to love St. Mary’s. The teachers are truly inter-

ested in how you do, hold you accountable for your actions and

there is a great deal of respect between the student body and

teachers – something that is difficult to find in schools today.

I have many ambitions for after high school and St. Mary’s

has brought me closer to those goals more than any other school

would be able to. Without your help I would not be able to finish

and I want to show my great appreciation for allowing this

to happen.Thank you very much and God bless.

Sincerely,

Trevor

Pat and Don Cloud, Catholic Legacy Society members




The Catholic Legacy SocietyBy Most Rev. Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs

Welcome!I’m so pleased to

share some won-derful news with you. Only 2 years after starting The Catholic Legacy Society, we already welcomed 230 new members. This is such a blessing. Each member has put their church or favorite ministry in their will or made another type of planned gift to support the mission of the Catholic Church here in central Colorado. These gifts express the love and gratitude our Legacy Society members have for the Church. It is both a tribute to their faith and a recognition of God’s grace at work in them.

I admire the members of our Catholic Legacy Society more than I can say.

We had our very first member induction Mass and luncheon last November, where I spent time with my fellow Legacy Society Members. Yes, I’m a member! You might think that because I’m the Bishop, it’s expected I leave my estate to my diocese. In fact, I could put anyone, or any organization I like in my will. But for me, making a planned gift to the Diocese of Colorado Springs is the very best way I can express my gratitude for being given the gift of faith and membership in Christ’s Body.

I hope you’ll become a member of The Catholic Legacy Society, and I look forward to thanking you at our upcoming Mass and luncheon!

Please Join Us In November!2nd Annual Catholic Legacy Society Induction Mass and LuncheonBishop Sheridan will personally thank and honor you for making a bequest or other planned gift. He’ll present you with an engraved Catholic Legacy Society medallion during the Mass and you’ll enjoy a lovely luncheon. Bishop Sheridan will be the Principal Celebrant of the Mass and all priests are invited to concelebrate. Deacons are invited to take part in the liturgical procession. This event happens in November, so its important that you inform us of your legacy gift by October 1, so we can send you an official invitation and make sure your medallion is personally engraved with your name.

Bishop Sheridan with Catholic Legacy Society members David and Janelle O’Keeffe

Leo “Gerry” Abdella Edward & Anita Achtenberg Anonymous Donors Ralph & Jo-Ann Anzur Jay & Nancy Barnwell Henry K. & Marguerite M. Becker Edgardo & Lisa Belen Sookhee P. Belmont David & Cheryl Borrego Deacon Richard & Mary Ann Bowles David & Denise Super Braith Christina Orff Brims Brock Family Endowment Fund Mr. and Mrs. Don L. Brooks James C. & Theresa O. Browne Rev. Don Brownstein = Rev. Gerald H. Bruggeman = William M. & Madalyn W. Calvert Deacon David P. & Rosie F. Camous Rev. Bill Carmody John Alvin Carmody Laurent A. Carrier/Carrier Financial Services Jo & Cindi Carroll David B. Cary Emilia D. Cimino Anna Marie Clayton Donald & Patricia Cloud Cloud Family William E. Coleman & Bonniegail Coleman John & Maureen Combs Conor & Peggy Cusick Lucille F. De Moor & James F. De Moor Dr. and Mrs. Robert F. Dillon Jerry & Nancy Doebele Kevin & Melia Dunbaugh Ret. SFC Jose A. Duran & Therese Duran = Nicholas Duran De Chavez Philip & Carolyn Erdle Russell Estey & Kathleen VanderBoom Rev. George V. Fagan, Jr. Christopher K. Fallis Steven & Theresa Flanigan Jerome & Jean Forte Rose M. Gabriel Ray & Eleanor Gentilini Wayne Gibbons & Suzanne Gibbons Paula M. Gillette = Edward F. & Iris J. Hanifen Bishop Richard C. Hanifen John J. & Julie Hartnett Gordon G. & Penny A. Heiniger Mr. and Mrs. Rodney John Hindley (Margaret) Fred A. Hoffman & Elizabeth Hoffman Carl D. Holditch Mr. and Mrs. Dan Homec Kenneth J. Huard = Charles J. Hyland M. Christina Irwin Msgr. Robert E. Jaeger Ed & Lorraine John Mr. and Mrs. David Keith Russell & Kathy Kern Rev. James Klein Ken & Robin Koop Richard A. & Evelyn R. Koprowski Duane F. Krones James & Janet Ladowski

= Claire R. Lemelin Paul & Mary Lillmars Brian K. Livie & Roberta L. Livie James A. & Michaele E. MacDougald George E. & Mary L. Madril Edward & Dorothy Markham Ky & Judy McCarty Bonnie M. McClain James A. McEachern Mary McLean = M.T. McMullen = Donald J. McNamara Peter C. & Gina H. Milliken Robert M. Moyers Gil & Mary Munoz Anne M. Nelson Rev. Bradford J. Noonan VF L. Martin & Melissa M. Nussbaum David & Janelle O’Keeffe Dorothy M. O’Lear James F. Orff Rev. Steve Parlet Wayne & Bridget Paton Charles & Susan Pavlica = Anthony J. Petronino Martin L. & Christine M. Plassmeyer Steven & Sandy Prebeck Very Rev. David R. Price Rev. Kenneth Przybyla Very Rev. Francisco J. Quezada Ethan D. Rector & Heidi M. Rector Elizabeth A. Reighley Mike & Paula Rice John R. Ross Jerry & Yvonne Schaefer Stacia M. Schmalzer Eileen Schmitz Marvin & Donna Sexton Bishop Michael J. Sheridan Lynn & Barbara Sherman Rev. Kirk J. Slattery = Margaret J. Sofia Rev. Lawrence T. Solan Terri Sortor Paul & Kris Sprehe Norman & Jackie Stegeman Rev. August L. Stewart Rev. Andrzej Szczesnowicz Walter & Margaret Tupitza = Robert Vandeven Philomena R. Varrone Varrone Family Sheila M. Venezia = Dorothy H. Vidmar Charles M. & Marie Wagner Karen T. Wagner Matt & Paula Walter Francis E. & Mary C. Wehner The DEW & EAW Living Trust Linda & Charles Whitner Rev. Paul F. Wicker Donald R. Wienecke & Barbara A. Wienecke Rev. James M. Williams Richard P. Wynn Rev. Mark Zacker Elizabeth Zimmerman= Deceased

Members of The Catholic Legacy Society



The Catholic Legacy Society

Please join us by making a bequest or other type

of planned gift!


Inaugural induction Mass for Catholic Legacy Society Members, November 15, 2013

Planning Matters is produced annually by the Diocese of Colorado Springs Office of Planned Giving.

Contact us at: Diocese of Colorado Springs Office of Planned Giving / 228 N. Cascade Avenue / Colorado Springs, CO 80903 / www.TheCatholicLegacySociety.org (719) 866.6518 / Fax (719) 636.1216 / [email protected]

We respect your privacy by never sharing your name with other organizations. If you prefer not to receive mail from us, please send a note or email telling us so, and we will promptly remove you from our mailing list.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes. Please consult your own advisor for tax, legal or financial advice.

Copyright © 2014 Planned Giving Marketing, LLC and Diocese of Colorado Springs.


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PLANNING MATTERS - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com...like us, middle class people on a fixed income—what you have—that’s your estate.” “People put off making a will,”