Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has declared the week of October 20 – 26, 2013 as West Virginia’s eighth Wills Week. He took this action in support of the statewide efforts of Leave A Legacy® of Central Appalachia, a program of the KYOWVA Planned Giving Council. The National Association of Estate Planning Councils is also observing Estate Planning Awareness Week during this time.
Leave a Legacy is a collaborative effort among nonprofit organizations and professional estate planning advisors. The program encourages West Virginians to protect their family’s future through appropriate estate planning and to include gift support for one or more of their favorite charitable organizations because each gift accomplishes something good that couldn’t happen otherwise.
Marilyn DiVita, Leave A Legacy president, said, “Thankfully, many West Virginians make gifts to support nonprofits year after year while they’re living. We hope they understand that their support is needed in the future too. By including their favorite nonprofits in their will, they’ll assure their personal legacy of support will continue. At the same time they plan for their family’s future needs, they can help make the future West Virginia an even better place to live and raise a family through their charitable choices.”
Outreach efforts are taking place throughout West Virginia during Wills Week to alert everyone about the benefits of future charitable support. In the Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Elkins, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Princeton, and Wheeling areas, special newspaper inserts and articles will be published to provide information on estate planning. Radio and television programming around the state will also include information on estate planning and charitable support options. Nonprofit partners will also send information to those they serve.
Nonprofit organizations and financial advisors interested in advancing their efforts related to bequest support may learn more at www.lalwv.org or call 304-343-2235 for a membership packet.
Major partners of Leave A Legacy are Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity, Sundale Rehabilitation and Long Term Care Facility, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and the WVU Foundation.
More helpful information on charitable planning is available at www.lalwv.org.