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Honoring Our Heroes: Creating a Legacy of Support for Our Community
True heroes leave more than memories—they leave legacies. Through thoughtful charitable giving, individuals like Alexander “Sandy” Gaston create enduring impact that reflects their deepest values. A Vietnam veteran devoted to honoring service and sacrifice, Sandy believed no child should miss the opportunity to connect with history due to financial hardship. Thanks to a heartfelt initiative sparked by a friend’s encounter with one such child, Sandy’s vision lives on through the Pearl Harbor Historical Sites Legacy Fund. This powerful gift ensures all Hawai‘i’s schoolchildren can access the stories and lessons of Pearl Harbor, regardless of income.
Like Sandy, donors have the opportunity to use giving strategies not only to make a lasting difference, but also to share their stories, values, and gratitude with future generations. Whether your clients wish to give now or plan a future gift, HCF offers a range of charitable giving strategies tailored to meet both financial planning and personal legacy goals.
Giving Now: Immediate Impact for Hawai‘i’s Veterans
For clients who want to make an immediate difference, HCF provides flexible options that maximize tax benefits while directing support to meaningful causes:
- Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): A flexible, tax-efficient option that allows clients to receive an immediate tax deduction while supporting veteran-focused charities. Clients can contribute appreciated securities, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to veteran support organizations over time.
- Designated Funds: If a client has a specific organization they want to support, a designated fund ensures sustained financial assistance while offering an upfront tax benefit. These funds can be tailored to veteran-related causes, ensuring consistent support for organizations assisting military personnel and their families.
- Field of Interest Funds: For clients passionate about military support but uncertain about specific organizations, a field of interest fund focused on Hawai‘i’s military and veteran community allows HCF to direct grants where they are most needed.
- Scholarship Funds: Education is a transformative gift. By creating a scholarship fund, clients can support veterans and their families as they pursue higher education and build new futures beyond military service.
One inspiring example is the Go For It Scholarship Fund of HCF, started by an anonymous Army veteran who fought hard for an education and later enlisted and served in the Army. Reflecting on a life that benefitted from kindness and good fortune, the donor paid it forward to give others the same opportunity he received. Since its inception, the fund has awarded $27,500 to support 17 students—an enduring reminder of how a single act of generosity can ripple outward.
Giving Later: Building a Legacy of Community Support
For clients who wish to leave a lasting impact, planned giving options ensure their support for Hawai‘i’s military community extends beyond their lifetime:
- Legacy Giving: A bequest in a will or trust allows clients to make a significant contribution to veteran-related causes while retaining assets during their lifetime.
- Beneficiary Designations: Clients can designate an HCF military-related fund as the beneficiary of life insurance policies, retirement accounts, or other assets—an efficient, impactful way to build a philanthropic legacy.
These strategies are not only powerful vehicles but also opportunities for clients to share their stories, values, and gratitude with the next generation.
To learn more about how you can help clients support Hawai‘i’s veterans and military community, contact Jen-L W. Lyman, Senior Director of Gift Planning and Advisor Relations, at (808) 566-5596 or jlyman@hcf-hawaii.org. Let us help you honor the past, uplift the present, and build a future of enduring support for those who have given so much for our country.
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