To the soothing strains of harpist Heather Paschoal's music, members of The SF/SPCA Legacy Society gathered in the Westin St. Francis' graceful Oak Room for an elegant High Tea on April 27, 2006. The reception was held to honor the many generous individuals who have pledged bequests to The SF/SPCA in their estate plans.
The SF/SPCA Legacy Society now numbers approximately 200 members, many of whom attended the function. We greeted the guests and thanked them, on behalf of homeless companion animals, for their generosity. SF/SPCA Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Jack Aldridge gave an informative update on the new Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, construction of which will begin this year. Kiska Icard, Director of Program Management, holding her 10-year old, hospice-care foster dog Violet, also thanked the guests for the generosity which has made possible the treatment and current quality of the little dog's life.
The Legacy Society was founded in 2003 by The SF/SPCA Development Department as a means of rectifying a missed opportunity and to ensure that the same failure would never occur again. Earlier that year, the Society was notified of a substantial bequest to it by teacher, artist, dog lover and philanthropist, Anita West. Unknown to us, Anita had made generous provision in her will for the dogs and cats at The SF/SPCA.
It was too late to express our gratitude to Anita West for her gift, which would provide care, treatment and the chance for a new life for so many needy animals. But the Development Department pledged that never again would it miss an opportunity to personally thank anyone who had been so kind as to make bequests in their estate plans for our homeless companion animals. The annual Legacy Society Tea is the result of this promise.
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SF/SPCA Legacy Society Member Denzel Carli and her caregiver Debbie Ignacio attend many SF/SPCA events. |
The warm, intimate ambience of the reception is a perfect setting in which to honor these valued members of The SF/SPCA family, and to acknowledge their commitment to the future of animal welfare.
The Legacy Society honors supporters who wish to contribute to the future success of the San Francisco SPCA's mission by making provision for the Society in their estate plans - either by will, trust, or other planned giving arrangement. The only qualification for membership in the Legacy Society is to share with The SF/SPCA that some type of testamentary provision has been made. The size of the gift need not be disclosed. Legacy gifts to The SF/SPCA can take many forms:
- Bequests in wills or living trusts
- Life income gifts to a charitable remainder trust
- Retirement plan and IRA beneficiary designations
- Gifts of Life insurance.
For more information about the Legacy Society, please call Katy Volz at 415-554-3027
