Bequests (A gift through your will) - American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter

Bequests (A gift through your will)

How to include the American Red Cross in my will

Many of our supporters make charitable gifts by naming the Red Cross as a beneficiary in their wills. The federal government encourages these gifts or bequests, by allowing an unlimited estate tax charitable deduction. To make a bequest to the Red Cross, the following language will be helpful to your lawyer:

"I give, devise and bequeath to the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter, 786 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo New York, 14209, the sum of $_______ (or specify a percentage of the estate) to be used for its general purposes.”

There are four ways you can make a bequest

Specific Bequest: You designate a specific dollar amount, specific percentage, or specific property to the American Red Cross.

Residual Bequest: Your estate will pay all debts, taxes, expenses, and specific bequests. The remaining amount, the residue, will be transferred to American Red Cross.

Contingent Bequest: You can ask that the American Red Cross receive all or a portion of your estate only under certain circumstances. For example, you can name the Red Cross as a beneficiary of your estate only if there are no surviving close family members. Childless couples sometimes provide for the entire estate to go to the surviving spouse, or if the spouce does not survive, to the Red Cross.

Memorial Bequest: You can make your bequest in the name of someone you wish to memorialize; we can suggest ways to ensure proper recognition.

All donors making a planned gift are invited to join the Carolyn Tripp Clement Society. This exclusive society honors the woman who made the original planned gift to the Greater Buffalo Chapter in 1941: the incredible Clement House we call our headquarters today. If you have already made a plan to give to the American Red Cross in your will or estate plan, please contact Michael Empric at the Red Cross. We realize that with your special gift, you consider us to be part of your family, and we want to do our best to keep you informed as to how your gift will be used and to give you the opportunity to tell us of your wishes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you wish to have your bequest benefit local families and disaster victims in need, you must specify the Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross. If you have already arranged to make a gift through your will, please check to make sure you have designated your local chapter.

To learn more about these and other planned gift options, review the links on the left,
and call Michael Empric at (716) 878-2374, or email EmpricM@usa.redcross.org