the BRAIN - Shepherd Center

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Photo by Leita Cowart
Notes from Scott Sikes
Shepherd Center Foundation Executive Director
Giving Thanks!
Dear Shepherd Center Volunteers and Donor Friends:
I’m writing you this letter in the heat and humidity of an
Atlanta summer. By the time you see this in print, fall has
returned, and you are busy with all sorts of activities.
Kids are back in school. Young adults are in college. The first
cooler, drier days have arrived in Atlanta. The leaves are changing.
College football is in full swing with many of you intently
following scores nationwide. Those of you who are super-organized
may be gathering your income tax-related information. Your
meetings with your accountant or other tax preparer may involve
pre-planning before the end of the
”These aren’t simply monetary
values. Often, they are a guidebook
for living a generous life.”
calendar/tax year. Normally, you consider
accelerating any payments or gifts that
might be deductible into this year and
delaying any income into next year.
Regardless of what you are doing
this fall with family and/or friends or how sophisticated your
tax planning is, consider what one Atlanta family has done for
decades. They hold a family meeting after their Thanksgiving
dinner and discuss the charitable organizations to which they give
and how large to make their contributions.
Each family member brings with them some of the charitable
solicitations they received during the year. Even the youngest
family members are involved. The family members discuss each of
these charitable organizations: each organization’s return-on-gift
“investment,” the impact of the organization on society, how
the organization has benefited the family members’ loved ones
and/or friends, etc. Afterward, family members vote on the
charitable organizations that will receive gifts and determine
what size the contributions will be.
This meeting serves as one way for grandparents and parents
to transfer their own values and identities to their children and
other loved ones at a significant time of year. The Thanksgiving
holiday is a time when one can thank those organizations
doing crucial work for important constituencies. Also, it is an
excellent time to prepare prudently for the
end of the tax year.
Sophisticated financial and estate
planners don’t spend time with clients
simply helping the clients transfer their
money to heirs. Instead, planners spend
time with clients helping them to transfer their most deeply
held convictions and values to the generation that follows.
These aren’t simply monetary values. Often, they are a
guidebook for living a generous life.
If you would like to leave a legacy to the next generation
of your family on Thanksgiving Day, please call me, and I can
help you organize a game plan. Thank you for your generous
investments in our work, which helps better the lives of
patients and families.
Seasons
of Shepherd Center
Supporters
From season to season, Shepherd
Center supporters combine generous
giving with fun events and
activities to benefit patients and their
families. From The Legendary Party
to Casino Night to Derby Day, supporters
consistently donate their time
and money to help patients rebuild
their lives with hope, dignity and
independence.
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