“Your legacy is every life you’ve touched. ” – Maya Angelou

What is a Legacy Gift?

Did you know you can make an impact beyond your lifetime?  When you leave a gift to Metropolitan Ministries in your Will, you ensure vulnerable families have safety and hope for the future. You also pass along your values to friends and family. Legacy gifts of any size are a beautiful way to express your faith and bless your family.

When you include Metropolitan Ministries in your Will, you become a member of our Legacy Society, a cherished group we honor for elevating Metropolitan Ministries to family status.  As part of our Legacy Society, you enjoy peace in knowing your Will represents what is important to you. You also protect your family from unnecessary heartache, expense, or guesswork with an up-to-date Will.

Watch this inspirational testimony from Legacy Society member Jerry Divers:

LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS

We forever honor and remember our Legacy Society Members (click below to see the member list)

Legacy Society Recognition
  • Caroline M. Adams*
  • Louis N. and Jean R. Adams*
  • B. Marshall and Mary Adams
  • Dr. John H. Ahn, D.O. and Ms. Mona M. Lee
  • Larry R. Aker
  • Terry E. Albrecht*
  • Robert and Angelina Alexander
  • Grace C. Allen*
  • Anonymous Donor*
  • Susan Avis Altstadt*
  • William and Lynn Andrews
  • Anonymous Donor
  • Anonymous Donor
  • Anonymous Donor
  • Anonymous Donor
  • Anonymous Donor
  • Anonymous Donor*
  • Anonymous Donor*
  • Vincent Antinori
  • Vivian A. Appeldoorn*
  • Enrique J. Araico
  • Wilson H. Ayers*
  • Joanna Babcock
  • Bernice F. Baker*
  • L. David and Virginia Baldwin*
  • Kathy A. Baldwin
  • Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Barringer
  • Bob and Debbie Basham
  • Belle Bekerkunst*
  • Thomas and Diana Belcher
  • Alvin A. Bennati, Sr.*
  • Mr. George Frank Bennett, Sr.*
  • Carl Bennink
  • Darlene Bentley*
  • Sally V. Bibby
  • Nancy E. Biddle
  • Dorothy K. Biegert*
  • Marie R. Bige*
  • Frances D. Bixby*
  • Walter and Ruth Black*
  • Helen M. Bogner*
  • Jimmie Ward Bonbright*
  • Mary M. Boze*
  • John and Tilda Brabson
  • Leon D. Braddock*
  • Christopher P. Bradley & Mary T. Bradley
  • Jim and Mary Frances Bransford
  • Ms. Teresa E. Bratcher-Evans
  • Virginia M. Brennan*
  • Florence Brigan*
  • David and Mary Brogan
  • Jean F. Bronec
  • Dorothy M. Brown*
  • Susie Crow Brown*
  • Linda and Jack Brown
  • Sandra E. Brown
  • Norman and Doris Buckman*
  • Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Buesing
  • Lita Burke
  • Jo Beth Burkette*
  • Bob and Barbar Burkham
  • Monette Burns*
  • Barry A. Bustillo*
  • Anita L. Cain*
  • Mr. and Mrs. Jay H. L. Calhoun
  • Dr. Axel F. Campbell
  • David N. Campbell
  • Robert E. Campbell
  • Ruth and Michael Cantwell*
  • Elaine C. Carbonneau
  • Bernice Carey*
  • Arthur D. Carlson*
  • Fred and Pearl Carter*
  • Murray S. Cashdollar, Jr.*
  • Thomas D. Casper
  • Linda B. Cassaly
  • Lori Ann Castleman
  • Diane C. Chadwick
  • Andrea C. Cheney
  • George H. Cherry*
  • Ethel B. Chiaramonte*
  • Chris and Elizabeth Christenberry
  • Mary J. Claffey
  • Lorraine R. Clark*
  • Shirley B. Clarke*
  • Brenelle E. Claytor
  • Mandelyn Kay Cloninger
  • Sally Ann Clyde
  • Delbert L. Coleman*
  • Eleanor K. Collins*
  • Barbara S. Colvin*
  • Nancy Conner*
  • Joseph and Kathryn Connor
  • Geraldine and James Cook*
  • Michael and Anna Cook
  • John and Rachel Cornish
  • Catherine Costanzo*
  • Diana S. Council
  • Dr. Israel Crespo & Mrs. Blanca Crespo
  • Steven D. Crites & Mrs. Suzanne Maridon-Crites
  • Wanda A. Cross*
  • Al Cunning*
  • Bernadine E. Daniels*
  • Edward J. Daniels*
  • Gloris L. Darnall*
  • Bettie H. Davis*
  • Wilson P. Davis*
  • Anita M. Davis
  • Susan Dione DeBarry
  • Ernest and Elen DeIntinis
  • Victor N. Della Rocco*
  • Gwen T. D’epiro
  • Donald A. DeReus
  • Dorothy M. Derrick
  • Denis Desautels
  • Gloria T. Desecki*
  • Richard A. Diaz
  • Ruth L. Dille*
  • A. Gerald Divers
  • Kenneth D. Dooley*
  • William C. Draeger, Jr.
  • Dian L. Dunlap
  • Louis S. Dunn
  • Mary Lee Dunstan*
  • Mary and Dick Duveneck
  • Julie K. Easterday
  • Dorothy E. Ebersbach*
  • Jack and Sandra Eckelaert*
  • Irene A. Eder*
  • Roy and Mary Edgerton
  • Katherine E. Egolf
  • Gerhard C. Eichholz*
  • Janet L. Elias
  • Dessa Jane Ellis*
  • Dr. Carolyn S. Ellis Bochner
  • Peter G. Emery and Jean S. Emery
  • George and Martha Enright
  • Betty G. Estes*
  • Donna J. Falgiani
  • Milton Felsing*
  • James and Celia Ferman
  • Daniel Ferrazza and Deborah M. Ferrazza
  • Brad and Annalise Fincher
  • James J. Fischbach*
  • Michelle Fountain
  • William R. Frank and Tina Di Tommasco
  • Kenneth Franks*
  • Sylvia E. Frazier*
  • William G. Griffin and Jacqueline G. Freeman*
  • Jeff E. Freeman and Kathy Freeman
  • Michele M. Freydberg
  • Dorothy L. Frost*
  • Donald Fyffe*
  • James Theodore Fyffe*
  • Donelda Gallagly
  • Dr. Thomas W. Garrett, III
  • Thomas F. Gear*
  • Genevieve C. Geiger*
  • Tamara A. Geltmaker*
  • John R. Gerg*
  • Ann L. Geuther*
  • Ashli and Christian Givens
  • Paula B. Glinter*
  • Nicholas and Caitlin Glover
  • Gerald O. Golden*
  • Patt Golden*
  • Josephine Gonzalez*
  • Robert M. Gonzalez and Cruz Gonzalez
  • Delores M. Goodspeed*
  • Virginia H. Gordon*
  • Helen M. Gordon*
  • Dr. Heidi Goss
  • Rudolph and Nancy Granda
  • Ellogene Gregory*
  • Verlin W. Guernsey*
  • Laura L. Gushin and Darrell J. Fasching*
  • Charles and Marcia Guy*
  • Irene C. Guy
  • Richard and Cindy Hadlow
  • Clifford W. Hager*
  • Diana and Richard Hall
  • Lt. Colonel and Mrs. John F Hallgren*
  • Jane Hamil*
  • Walter A. Hardenstine*
  • Hazel Hargrove*
  • Stan and Frankie Harrell
  • LeBrone C. Harris*
  • Andy Harris
  • Craig and Patricia Hauser
  • William and Rhoda Herr*
  • Richard D. Higgs*
  • Alvin and Beth Hillegass
  • Dr. Alton Hinks and Mrs. Lois Hinks*
  • Morris and Paula Hintzman
  • Ruth E. Holmes*
  • Dwight and Joyce* Hopkins
  • Eleanor J. Howland
  • Fred E. Hucke*
  • Kurt and Amy Hull
  • Jack and Kathy Hunt
  • Margaret A. Hutinger*
  • Gordon Icheldinger*
  • Hunt and Molly James
  • Bruce Thomas Johnston*
  • T. Edward and Ruth F. Jones*
  • Ronald W. Jones*
  • Alan and Christine Jones
  • Durelle M. Jones
  • Larry and Vivian Jones
  • Ramonita and Benny Jones
  • Larry A. Kahler
  • Michael and Margaret Kanter
  • Frederick A. Keller, Jr.*
  • Diana J. Kelley
  • Kathleen Kelly
  • William and Jody Kerr
  • Faye Kinder*
  • Silvia Marguerite Kirkconnell*
  • Raymond B. Klemmack*
  • Martha S. Knecht
  • Laura G. Knox
  • Lori Koletic
  • Patricia L. Kooker*
  • Sue Ann Korsberg
  • Mr. Robert E. Kozyra and Mrs. Donna Volkman
  • Ru Lennox Lang*
  • Anne R. Langford*
  • Mack S. Lee*
  • Anonymous Donor*
  • Ms. Nicole Leontsinis
  • Leonard Lepof*
  • Christa J. Lewis*
  • Dot A. Lippmann
  • Patsy Little
  • Dr. Aaron* and Mrs. Martha Longacre
  • Gwendolyn T. Lonsbrough*
  • Joy Lowell
  • Mark and Michelle Luedke
  • Neta Luoto*
  • James G. Lyman
  • James and Mary Jo MacAulay
  • Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Machesney
  • Caryl and Roland Mack
  • Alex D. MacKinnon and Sandra Cross MacKinnon
  • Sean and Amy Maguire
  • Arva Lee Maguire
  • Jim and Barbara Major
  • Joseph C. Manaley*
  • Elsa R. Mantas
  • Anthony March
  • Gregory Margliano
  • Sharon M. Marino
  • Tim and Valeri Marks
  • Maureen Marshall
  • Dr. and Mrs. Dean F. Martin
  • Robert K. Masterson
  • Robert and Alison Matherly
  • Wayne and Rosemary Mayo
  • Robert McAndrew
  • Nichole W. McCutchan
  • Robert and Ethel McGeorge*
  • Mary Matildam McKay*
  • John P. McKenna* and Kathleen W. McKenna
  • Eileen McManis
  • Mary McNamara
  • Michael W. Michelin
  • Dean A. Millard
  • Captain Bill Miller and Mrs. Debbie Miller
  • Mary and Edwin Miller
  • Eugene and Dora Milliron*
  • Thomas E. Mills
  • Brian and Shannon Moore
  • Edith Loeffler Morales*
  • Dr. John and Meredith Morgan
  • Karen S. Morin
  • Margaret Moses*
  • Charlotte A. Mullen
  • Frank and Sylvia Musalo
  • Florice F. Nagel*
  • Norman and Virginia Nelson*
  • George Nicholas*
  • Delbert Nichols*
  • Vida Nix*
  • Kathryn W. Noble*
  • Gertrude C. Norton*
  • Jo Ann Oberley*
  • Ruth Wilson O’Brien*
  • Pat and Marsha Odor
  • Ms. Sally Ordway
  • Jan and William Oster*
  • The Otte Family
  • Robin W. Otto
  • Robert G. Pack*
  • Mr. and Mrs. Palmer*
  • Autumn and Ron Pandolfo
  • Tom* and Janet Pantaleo
  • Dr. Lois J. Paradise*
  • Robert and Sadie Pariseau
  • Pearl H. Parsons*
  • Donald and Marcia Patzsch*
  • Kathryn Emily Pearce*
  • Frank W. Peck*
  • Francene Penhallow
  • LeeAnna M. Pepitone*
  • Maria Pescador*
  • Hazel E. Peterson*
  • Elizabeth B. Pettersson
  • John and Elaine Pidgeon*
  • Bishop George I. Pililis*
  • Michael and Carol Piper
  • Irene K. Pittman*
  • Anne and Drew Pittman
  • Betty L. Place*
  • Robert and Marie Portner
  • Rebecca L. Poston
  • Lt Col Kathleen J. Potthoff and Maj Kathy Sheppard
  • James and Julia Pratt
  • Virginia Boyce Price*
  • Barbara C. Price
  • Maybelle R. Price*
  • Paul and Nancy Prine
  • Jack and Mary Rader
  • David V. Ramsay*
  • Hortense Ramsey*
  • Mildred Rathousky*
  • Walter and Margo Reagan*
  • Michele M. Ream*
  • Roland and Victoria Ream*
  • David and Millie Redmond
  • Joel and Sharon Rentz
  • Chris M. Reyes
  • Norman and Ruth Reynolds*
  • Robin L. Reynolds and Greg Reynolds
  • Sheila Rice
  • David Richardson
  • Fimie Richie*
  • Hope A. Ring*
  • Wesley W. Rink*
  • James Robertson*
  • Keneath F. Robinson, Jr. and Christine A. Robinson
  • Chase* and Valda Robinson
  • Robert N. Rodgers*
  • Warren E. Ross
  • Brick K. Rossie and Anna Marie Dunn
  • Arthur and Germaine Routhier*
  • Sara A. Ruby
  • Walter and Mary Rucki*
  • Stephen L. Rudacille and Gayle P. Rudacille
  • Linda J. Ruediger
  • Mary L. Russell
  • Marie and Desi Saludes
  • Helen A. Samaras*
  • Arleen and Irving Sanders
  • Mark and Susan Scaglione
  • Gerald L. Schick*
  • Willard and Arlene Schrock*
  • Jay and Maria Scott
  • Norman J. Seitz and Tina Perry Seitz*
  • Dale and Nancy Sells
  • T. Terrell and Neva Sessums*
  • Jerry E. Shellabarger*
  • Elinor Jane Short*
  • Martin and Ruth Silbiger
  • Donald and Cynthia Silvestri
  • William H. Simon, Jr.*
  • Joan M. Sina
  • James Milton Sloane*
  • James E. Smart*
  • Leo Smith*
  • Linda C. Smith*
  • Mary B. Smith*
  • Alfred Smith
  • Edward* and Nancy Smith
  • Shirley M. Smith
  • Jane E. Sobotta
  • William and Sheila Spires
  • Catherine Spoor*
  • Hilda Spradlin*
  • Maureen and Evan Staggenborg*
  • Mary E. Stanton
  • Marilou W. Staples
  • Barbara and William Starkey
  • Alfred J. and Doris C. Staubitz*
  • Gerald H. Stead, Esq.*
  • Shirley Steiss*
  • Alexandria Stephens
  • Jean E. Stevenson*
  • Leo and Karen Stutzman
  • Matthew and Kimberly Hoffman
  • Peter and Sandra Swift
  • Thomas James Szikszay*
  • Mr. John T. Taylor
  • Sharon and Ted Taylor
  • Dr. Susan M. Taylor
  • Philip J. Thalman
  • Robert and Suzanne Thomas*
  • Meredith A. Thornton
  • Janet P. Todd*
  • Kimberly D. Tope
  • Beverly K. Topmiller
  • Claudia O. Tosca*
  • Kenneth and Esther Tuttle*
  • Martha Vaguener
  • Mike and Trisha Van Petten
  • John A. Varnado, Jr.
  • Ted and Marian D. Ver Schure DeVries*
  • Cristina Vera
  • Martha E. Vernon*
  • Adeline J. Volkman*
  • Kenneth and Doris Waggoner*
  • Leo Waggoner*
  • Nancy H. Wallace
  • Robert Walters
  • Grace and Andy Huang
  • Walter F. Weisseg*
  • Henry and Lennie Wells
  • Judith A. West*
  • Karen E. West
  • Jason and Erin Whidden
  • Michelle White-Chesnovsky
  • Carolyn S. Whiting*
  • Erna C. Wilder*
  • Beth A. Wilkinson
  • Bonita B. Williams*
  • Rosemarie E. Williams*
  • Van and Sally Williams
  • Eva M. Wills*
  • D. David and Kimberly Woods
  • Catherine J. Wooley-Brown
  • Ronald and Joy Worley
  • Elizabeth K. Yeomans*
  • Deborah L. Young
  • Reverend Catherine M. Zatsick
  • Gene V. Zenobia and Marjorie D. Zenobia*

5 Ways to Bless your Family’s Future (click to open)

Get a Will

When people start adding up the value of their home, life insurance, retirement accounts, and other property, they begin to see that even with a modest middle class estate, a plan is needed that provides for their families and the charities they love.

Reduce (or eliminate) unnecessary taxes and court cost

A Will can help you reduce probate hassles and costs, avoid certain taxes, and decrease other administrative expenses – freeing up more resources to your heirs and charitable work.

Decide who will manage your stuff after you die

Without a Will, a court decides how to distribute your estate. On the other hand, when you name your own representative in your Will, you decide who will distribute the money and things entrusted to you.

Decide who will take care of your kids

If you have minor children, a Will allows you to name the guardian of your children and a Trustee of the assets to provide for the children. If a court is left to make these decisions for you, your spiritual values may be disregarded.

Include “ministry” in your family

Your Will can be powerful a testimony to family and friends. Including your extended “family” in your Will – namely your church and favorite charities – is a wonderful way to express your values for generations to come.

Is Metropolitan Ministries already in your Will?

We would like to thank you appropriately and be sure we honor your intentions. Complete this Declaration Form and send to Molly.James@metromin.org

Do you need language to share with your attorney regarding your legacy gift?

Please click here for more details: Bequest Language for Attorney

 

More Ways to Leave a Legacy

Other than putting Metropolitan Ministries in your will, learn about more more ways to give a legacy gift.

Charitable Gift Annuities

CGAs are a simple arrangement that involves a charitable gift and an annuity. You simply make a gift (part of which is tax deductible), and receive fixed annuity payments each year for the remainder of your life. At the end of your life, the charitable gift goes to support our work.

Charitable Trusts

A charitable trust allows you to bless a ministry you care about while still providing an income for you or your heirs. With a charitable lead trust, money is paid first to the ministry of your choice for a specified amount of time. Then at the end of the trust period, the balance goes to a designated beneficiary. A charitable remainder trust reverses that order, paying your heir first.

Retirement Assets and IRA Giving

Designating a ministry as the beneficiary of your retirement account offers a number of tax advantages. Unlike individual beneficiaries, ministries are not required to pay income tax on withdrawals from these accounts, plus the sum you give will not be included in your adjusted gross income.

Gifts of Life Insurance

Insurance is a way to make a substantial future gift at a level that might not be possible with a cash gift. By naming Metropolitan Ministries as the owner and beneficiary to receive the proceeds of an existing life insurance policy, you will receive a tax deduction for approximately the cash surrender value, thereby reducing your tax liability in the year of the gift. An alternative is to simply add Metropolitan Ministries as a revocable beneficiary. This way you retain the right to change this designation, but you do not receive an income tax deduction.

Real Estate Gifts

Properties that can be given to us include personal residences, vacation homes, commercial property or land. Many people like to give gifts of real estate because the inherent value of the property far exceeds that of any other single asset. It’s very popular because even individuals with modest estates typically own real estate.

Point of Death Transfers

POD Transfers are a way of designating beneficiaries to receive your assets automatically at the time of your death, without having to go through probate court. They also allow you to specify the percentage of assets each person or entity will receive.

Ready to Leave Your Legacy?

Please contact Molly James, CEO, Metropolitan Ministries Foundation at (813) 695-4682 or Molly.James@metromin.org

Metropolitan Ministries, Inc. TAX ID: 59-1477007

 

“Your last will and testament is your final teaching.  What do you want it to say to your children?” – Rabbi Mordechai Leibling