SPOTLIGHT ON MEIGHAN HARMON
What better way to support the Foundation in perpetuity than to create a planned gift by trust, will or other means. Your planned gift creates a legacy that ensures memorialization of your support for protecting children and families.
We recently asked Meighan Harmon, the Managing Partner of domestic relations law firm, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, why she decided to become a Foundation legacy/planned giving donor. “It was an easy decision to make the AAMLF one of my designated beneficiaries on my work 401(k) and easy to fill out a beneficiary designation form”. Meighan was a Director of the AAMLF at the time she made her commitment after seeing all the good work the Foundation does in granting funds to numerous well-vetted organizations that receive Foundation grants every year. “I viewed this as a phenomenal opportunity to be able to give back. The Foundation provides much-needed seed money to organizations that meaningfully complement our professional legal efforts in the space that we all occupy in working with families and children going through divorces, separations and conflict.” Although Meighan is young and expects to live a long and fulfilling life, she firmly believes legacy donations are a game-changer for the Foundation and its mission. “Legacy donations will provide the continuity for the Foundation and allow it to grow its asset base. It is my hope that by the time the Foundation actually receives my donation, it will only be icing on the cake!” Over time, Meighan plans to increase her designation amount through periodic review of her estate plan and updates to her 401(k) beneficiary designation form and other charitable giving. With a pledge or donation in the amount of $10,000 or more, a donor becomes a member of the Planned Giving Benefactors Society. Entry provides you with the personal satisfaction of supporting the work of the Foundation and the children/families that receive that support. In addition, your gesture will be acknowledged by your peers as your name is recognized at the time of your pledge and at the time the donation is received (subject to the family’s or donor’s request of confidentiality). The donor’s name will be listed on a registry that will be a permanent fixture on the Foundation’s website, recognized at Foundation events and published to AAML Fellows in newsletters and elsewhere A planned gift is easy to make. Donors are encouraged to seek tax and estate planning advice from their attorney, certified public accountant or financial advisor. Different options include:
- Outright gift of cash, securities or other property
- Bequest in a Last Will and Testament
- Revocable Living Trust
- Gift of Life Insurance
- Designation of beneficiary of Life Insurance policy
The first step is to make a pledge by reaching out to the Planned Giving page located on the Foundation website: www.aamlfoundation.org/planned-giving or by directly contacting a member of the Planned Giving Committee: Suzanne Harris, Co-chair, sharris@harris-ginsberg.com Anita Rodarte, Co-chair, arodarte@lrsfamilylaw.com Joy Feinberg, joy@fsfamlaw.com Twila Larkin, TLarkin@newmexicolegalgroup.com