The St. Anthony Legacy Society is gaining momentum with 10 charter members. Our charter members include: Rex and Frances Gettelfinger, Mike and Pam Jaynes, Jo Jacobs, Tom and Mary Ann Kempf, Jim and Judy Kenney and Pat Weidner.

The charter members are leading by example and hope to start a culture of planned giving here at St. Anthony.  In addition, to these 11 members, we have 3 parishioners who have made a planned gift but wish to remain anonymous and another 23 parishioners who have indicated they intend to start the process of leaving a bequest to St. Anthony and become a member. If you have already made the decision to include St. Anthony in your will, we hope you will join the Legacy Society. Please complete the St. Anthony Legacy Society Acknowledgment (click dociment link in left navigation bar to print form) and give it to Father or someone in the Parish Office. 

The Legacy Society charter members encourage all parishioners to consider a gift to the St. Anthony Church and School after taking care of your loved ones in your will or trust. We acknowledge and respect those who wish to remain anonymous, we certainly understand. But please consider these 10 reasons why our parish needs a strong Legacy Society and why we need you to be an active part of this ministry!
 
1. It plants a seed.
A legacy society raises awareness of planned giving within our parish. Most Americans contribute to nonprofit groups during their lifetimes. However, very few Americans continue this support through a charitable bequest. The primary reason that a majority of people don’t leave a bequest, they don’t have a will. People for many reasons and excuses just don’t do it. And if they have a will they may just not have thought about a charitable bequest. A legacy society can plant that seed!

2. It doesn’t compete!
Sunday collections, fund raisers, annual funds and capital campaigns all compete for your day to day budget expenses during your life. Bequests are gifts made to family, friends or organizations that were meaningful to you during your life; but given after your death

3. It demonstrates our Parish is here to stay.
A legacy society promotes a parish vision of being a strong, vibrant, growing and serving church.

4. It provides an opportunity to say “Thank You”.
A legacy society acknowledges and thanks donors during their life time for making a bequest to their church.

5. Society members become a witness to others.
A legacy society enables members to show others the value St. Anthony’s has in their life.

6. Society members model the way for others.
By being a witness to others society members are modeling the way for others to join you in providing for the future of our Parish through a planned gift.

7. It gives us the ability to give a substantial gift.
Few of us can give substantial sums of money to charities while we are alive. Amid the frenzy of financial demands if our life—such as ensuring the stability of everyday needs and planning for a secure retirement—our ability to make a big difference today can be difficult. However most of us do have the ability to leave a substantial bequest when we die. 

8. It honors our deceased.
A legacy society helps honor the stewardship of deceased parishioners who remembered the mission of our Catholic faith by leaving a gift from their estates to support our Parish.

9. It secures our future.
A legacy society helps ensure that our Catholic faith can be carried out for future generations. A legacy society will provide funding that St. Antony’s Parish rarely sees today. Bequests can provide a financial cushion during the tough times and ability to expand our ministries in the good times

10. To communicate that it is easy!
A legacy society can promote how easy it is to leave a bequest. A Legacy Society can communicate that the only real obstacle to making a bequest is not having a Will.
 
What better way to thank an organization that affected your life than to give to that cause through a bequest?