Honoring the Gorge and a Family Legacy

When Mary Dickson started a charitable gift annuity with Friends, she was drawn in large part to the practical benefits - easy to set up, tax benefits, and a steady predictable income. But the story of Mary's transformative gift starts decades ago with a very special person.

When Mary graduated from high school, her aunt, who was the first woman to graduate from Northwestern University with a degree in economics, also gave Mary some strong advice: always reinvest the dividends, unless there's something really important to you. She honored her aunt's words, only taking out funds for graduate school and other unique opportunities.

When Mary retired, she was weighing what to do with the stock, which had appreciated greatly through the years. The choice was simple: "I wanted to invest in something I believe in." Over the years she had fallen in love with the Gorge and its waterfalls. A charitable gift annuity with Friends met her practical needs and felt like a fitting tribute to her aunt and their time together in the Gorge marveling at its beauty.

Thank you, Mary, for including Friends in your plans. We know your aunt would be proud!