Ken Potish
"First, I certainly recommend that anyone reviewing her or his estate plan or establishing one consider a bequest to a personally meaningful organization. It's very easily done, a matter of a few sentences in one's will. Second, I would further recommend that anyone familiar with Volunteers of America and its great work consider a bequest in its name.

When it came time for a periodic review of my estate plan, I decided to set aside some assets to benefit Volunteers of America. Volunteers of America can't function without the support of benefactors and donors. Given my involvement and the kind of financial gifts I had been making, this seemed like the logical next step for me. I would be able to help Volunteers of America after I am gone."

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Viola M. Ferris
"Volunteers of America is so results-oriented," Joe said in a recent interview. "They give people a second chance every day. The Volunteers touch young people at so many points in their lives, often just when they need that little bit of help that gets them back on track." Because you, like Viola and Joe, care about those young people, a will should figure prominently in your future plans. Your will allows you to make a thoughtful distribution of assets that took a lifetime to accumulate and empowers you to minimize "estate shrinkage" from inheritance taxes and probate costs.

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Marlin Kerstetter
According to Elbert, through all his jobs this quiet man never made more than $8 an hour. He'll also tell you Marlin treasured every dollar he could save, and save he did - in bank accounts, CDs and mutual funds. By the time life had worn him down to the point that he asked his little brother, Elbert, to take care of his finances, Marlin had amassed $1 million. "Marlin was terrible at keeping paperwork straight," Elbert recalled. "When I started helping him, I found accounts all over the place. I don't believe he knew how much he had."

Elbert did well by Marlin and Anna, growing the investments to $1.5 million over the seven years before the ravages of Alzheimer's and lung cancer called Marlin home.

Philip and Nell Boals

Philip and Nell Boals, Citrus Heights residents, relocated from San Francisco in 2001 to be closer to family. Phillip, 90, and Nell, 87, have two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They spend their retirement years visiting with family, listening to classical music and supporting the charities they believe in. The Boals have always been active members of their church and take pride in keeping up on the charities to which they contribute.

"Once a year, we donate highly appreciated stock to several charities in order to spread it around. It is most advantageous to give stock because we avoid capital gains and more can go to charity," says Mr. Boals, who retired from the railroad in 1960.

John Hiller

John encourages others to make a planned gift to Volunteers of America, Utah. "Do it! You won't regret it. It's not an easy decision to give today while you can still see the money. It requires reflection. But there is an incalculable return. It will enrich your life in ways you can't imagine. When you make a planned gift it feels so good, and over time, the return on giving is tremendous."