OUR LEGACY TODAY Winter 2023 | Legacy Community Health Newsletter | LegacyCommunityHealth.org
It’s Never Too Soon to Start Planning for Your Future Are you among the 66% of Americans who haven’t written a will? Perhaps you don’t believe you have enough assets to leave behind or the time and resources to create an estate plan. But a will is essential if you have children, pets, a bank account, or other assets. It can ensure your wishes are honored if you are no longer here to express them. “I thought creating a will would be expensive,” says Legacy Montrose Pharmacy manager Kevin Aloysius. “But I’d just paid off my student loans, and I have money in my Legacy retirement account. If I’m no longer here, I want my assets to go to the right people.” Now, making a will is easier than ever, thanks to a new partnership between Legacy and FreeWill. Visitors to the FreeWill website can create wills and other estate plan documents for free! “Before, I thought I’d need a lawyer, or it would cost a lot, and I’d have to gather all sorts of information,” says Kevin. “But it was so easy. I received concrete instructions that covered things I would not have considered. All the details were there, and the process took less than 15 minutes.”
Kevin Aloysius, Manager – Pharmacy, Legacy Montrose
Kevin is doing his part to plan for Legacy’s future. “Working in the pharmacy and seeing the people we help can sometimes be overwhelming,” he says. “I think of how much more we can do with just a little more funding. My contribution might be small, but it will make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.
“Making sure things are taken care of is the responsible thing to do.”
FreeWill also helps users create advanced healthcare directives, financial power of attorney documents, and provides step-bystep guidance for qualified charitable contributions (QCDs). Plus, FreeWill’s services are available to anyone. Mike Holloman, the chairperson of Legacy’s Endowment Board, recommended FreeWill to his sister. “She was the executor of our mother’s estate,” Mike recalls, “and she realized she needed a will of her own.” FreeWill also allows users to select Legacy Community Health as a beneficiary. It’s completely optional, but Mike hopes people will choose Legacy. “We’re building our endowment fund to ensure Legacy’s mission to drive healthy change in our communities continues in perpetuity,” he explains. “Legacy has been here more than 40 years, and we want it to serve the community for decades to come.”
He has also designated his contribution to the Jackson Hicks Endowed Fund for the Education, Treatment, and Prevention of HIV/AIDS. “We’re still seeing a lot of new diagnoses of HIV,” says Kevin. “But the right medication can help people get their HIV under control. Legacy plays an important role in getting medication to the people who need it.”
And his message for others thinking about making their will? “Making sure things are taken care of is the responsible thing to do. I’m 35 years old and a workaholic. If I can do it in 15 minutes, I’m pretty sure anyone can. It’s just a small thing you can do, but it’ll have a huge impact.”
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