Helping Those Less Fortunate and How Estate Planning Provides a Way

Some time ago I got the opportunity to become involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  In fact, this was a chance provided for me because the firm of Morris Hall encourages their attorneys to volunteer their time with various charitable organizations.  Make-A-Wish Foundation’s dedication to fulfilling the wishes of ill children touched my heart, making my choice of organizations easy to make.  My experience as a volunteer with them has been life-changing.  The various “wish kids” I have been privileged to meet have inspired me and reminded me of the things in life that are most important.

Recently I got an opportunity to see how other companies and individuals do their part to ensure that these children have their wishes granted.  One such company is ESPN.  Each summer ESPN teams up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant sports wishes to seriously ill children.  At this event one can see a rare glimpse of the softer side of some sports' greater-than-life-heroes.  This year's installments featured wishes granted by LeBron James, Alex Ovechkin, Kyle Busch and Mark Sanchez.  Watching these children’s faces light up with joy at not only meeting, but spending time with their favorite sports stars is a precious experience.  These moments truly help to put life in perspective.

Far too often, we get caught up in our daily lives, our own worries and stresses.  In the grand scheme of things, our problems are often minimal compared to the problems that many of these young children face.  While these athletes may only give up a few hours of their time, they create an impression on a child and a family that will last forever.  Through their actions they are leaving behind a legacy.

Have you ever wondered what your legacy will be?  You do not have to be famous or rich to make a difference in a child's life, maybe even your own.  In fact, one way you can help is through your estate planning.  Many people choose to bequest a portion of their assets to a charity as part of their estate planning.  Not only does this provide significant tax advantages and potential personal advantages, it also provides the opportunity to assist those in need.  In fact, for those that build up frequent-flyer miles, those can be donated as well.  Make-A-Wish often needs to use these miles to fly children and their family to fulfill specific wishes.  There are so many ways that each of us can make a difference and leave a legacy.  To learn more about how your estate planning can help, schedule a free consultation today by calling 888.222.1328.

Contributed by MH Phoenix Estate Planning Attorney West Hunsaker

About Morris Hall:
At Morris Hall, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years.  Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, power of attorneys, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects.  We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead.  Our New Mexico offices are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.