CHOC Donors Create an Extraordinary Impact

Liz and Ryan Hawkins

Liz and Ryan Hawkins, members of CHOC’s mental health advocacy committee since 2017, are dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and educating the community about programs and resources at CHOC.

Liz has been a passionate volunteer at CHOC for seven years. By undergoing extensive training that allows her to dedicate her time to our mental health inpatient center, Liz recently became one of the country’s only volunteers within a pediatric inpatient psychiatric unit. Liz and Ryan also support CHOC philanthropically and, despite being very young, have made a commitment to include CHOC in their estate plan. Below, Liz and Ryan explain in their own words what led them to this decision.

“We heard about CHOC’s mental health initiative years ago when it was still just a great idea. It’s been incredible to be involved from the ground floor, helping it grow to create a life-changing impact on our community’s children. Families who had severely limited options for their child’s treatment now have somewhere to go. Now, they have hope.

The initiative is off to an amazing start, but there’s still much left to do to address the need.

We are just regular people, but we can make an extraordinary impact. For people who think estate planning is just for certain people, it isn’t. It’s everyone’s job to think about their legacy and what they want to leave behind.

Just because we don’t have kids of our own doesn’t mean we have any less stake in their future. It’s everyone’s responsibility to care for children, advocate for their well-being and make this world a little better for them.

There’s a quote we love that says, ‘The purpose of life is not to be successful, but to be significant.’ What’s more significant than making the world a better place for the next generation?

We hope you decide to join us in building an incredible legacy of care for kids throughout our community.”

—Liz and Ryan Hawkins

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A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to CHOC a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give to CHOC Foundation, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 1201 West La Veta Avenue, or its successor thereto, ______________* [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to CHOC or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to CHOC as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to CHOC as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and CHOC where you agree to make a gift to CHOC and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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