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PATRONS | Spring 2017 15 FUTURE FOCUS WHAT IS A CHARITABLE BEQUEST? Making a bequest through your will or living trust is the simplest of planned gifts. With simple language included in your will or trust, you can support your favorite charity after you leave this world, and your heirs also enjoy a tax benefit. Everyone should have a will/trust– regardless of the value of your estate. Creating a will/trust to outline your wishes for how your property is distributed after your demise is the only way your intentions can be realized. Without this written document, the laws of the state where you live will dictate how your property is distributed, which will not likely match your desires. For those who already have a will/trust, it is equally important to review it every few years to ensure it is up-to-date with your current circumstances and still reflects your wishes. Circumstances that might trigger action to review your will are a birth or death in the family, a change in marital status like divorce or remarriage, relocation to another state, or tax law changes. Consideration of a charitable gift or significant increase or decrease in the value of your assets may also prompt a review. Contact your estate planning attorney for guidance in reviewing and updating your will/trust or Torrance Memorial's Office of Planned Giving for information. Sandy VandenBerge, director of Planned Giving, can be reached at 310-784-4843 or sandy.vandenberge@tmmc.com. Please also let us know if you have included Torrance Memorial in your estate plan, so we can acknowledge your advance planning and include you in our Heritage Society. J im Andrews' first encounter with Torrance Memorial Medical Center was in the 1980s. After being diagnosed with cancer—a long story he says—he was in the hospital for four full months. It was a long time to be away from home. It could have been unbearable. Except that it wasn't. rough it all—the treatment, the tests, the emotional roller coaster—Andrews knew that from the administrative staff to the nurses and doctors, he was in not just capable hands, but "good hands." "at stuck with me," he says. Decades later, Andrews began pondering his financial legacy. He set his sights on finding a nonprofit that serves across various demographics and income levels and one that brings people together. Longtime family friend Stephen Connors, a Certified Financial Planner® who sits on Torrance Memorial's Professional Advisory Council (PAC), suggested he look into the hospital that had cared for him years ago. Torrance Memorial was already a recipient of his annual giving. But after scheduling tours and meetings with medical and administrative staff, Andrews decided to update his will and trust. Connors referred Andrews to attorney Eric Harris, also a PAC member, who helped him set up a bequest. rough this, he designated the Torrance Memorial Foundation as the beneficiary of most of his estate. "I thought about them (Torrance Memorial) as just a place where sick people went, and it turns out they're so much more than that," Andrews says. "I was amazed with the technology and how much they do for the community." Andrews learned about Torrance Memorial's commitment to support Harbor Interfaith Services, a San Pedro nonprofit that serves the homeless and working poor by providing shelter, training and support to help them get back on their feet. is past holiday season, Torrance Memorial departments delivered toys to the organization and also sponsored 15 families, providing a full holiday meal, along with gift cards. "e money goes back to serve people. It's more of a place for people to get healthy and to stay healthy," he says. Entering the corridors on a tour of the new Lundquist Tower gave Andrews a sense of health and well-being—from the calm piano music in the lobby to the soothing colors on the walls. Andrews says he trusts the hospital to choose the best way to use his money and ensure his legacy. But he has also made one request. "I've asked that my money be given to low income programs—to people who would otherwise have difficulty paying the bills," he explains. "I said to help people, especially children, when they need it." Andrews recommends Torrance Memorial to anyone looking for a "good, trustworthy, caring organization" to include in their estate plan. "We can trust the care and that our donations are going back into services." Andrews says. "Supporting them strengthens our community." Bequest Helps Jim Andrews Put Others in "Good Hands" BY ALANA GARRIGUES To learn more about Torrance Memorial's Planned Giving opportuni es, visit, www.torrancememorial.org/ plannedgiving. JIM ANDREWS IS PICTURED AT THE ANNUAL HERITAGE SOCIETY LUNCHEON.