
The Legacy Society
The Equestrian Order cherishes every gift you make, whether now or in the future.
I visited the Holy Land on a pilgrimage with Cardinal Mahony, along with what I can only describe as a cast of thousands. We were eight busloads of wayfarers, identified by bus color. We all met for daily Mass, then continued separately for the rest of the day. I will never forget the inspiration of the con-celebrated Masses with the Cardinal and a goodly number of bishops, monsignors and priests all lined up behind the altar.
The journey itself was incredible. You fully enter into the Scripture the moment they become alive before your very eyes. I will never again see the Bible as static history because I walked where it all took place.
I was particularly interested in the plight of the remaining Christians in the Holy Land. Many suffer great hardships just to make it through the day. Prejudice against them is rampant. Huge walls and checkpoints are the norm in Bethlehem. Yet, somehow, they carry on.
One area of hope is the youth of the area. I learned that the Order supports a network of schools where Christians and Muslims study and learn to live together. Fifty nine percent of students in the Latin Patriarchate schools are Christian and 41 percent are Muslim.
But, here I am, preaching to the choir.
When I was invested as a Dame of the Order, I was glad to see that my contributions helped to support those schools. I recently decided to take advantage of the annual contribution for life. This is a great way to eliminate the hassle of writing the annual check and is extremely helpful for the Order to make plans with income based on the interest from my contribution. And the principal will eventually become my estate gift. I am so happy to know that my desire to help the Christians in the Holy Land is in place. Since I’m not getting any younger, it’s nice to have something I don’t have to worry about.
– Dame Helen Pekny, DHS, shares a heartfelt testimonial on her decision to contribute to the Order’s mission in the Holy Land through a gift that endures.
Legacy Society Recognition
Anyone who includes the Order in their estate plan for any amount is entered into the Legacy Society. All Legacy members will be acknowledged as noted below:
- Recognition on their Annual Meeting Name Tag
- Recognition at the Annual Business Meeting
- Recognition at the Mid-Year Meeting
- It will be noted next to their name in the Annual Roster
- It will be noted in the Year in Review document
- Upon member’s passing, the Lieutenant will speak to the impact of a member’s gift at the Annual Meeting
Society Levels
There are four achievement levels in the Legacy Society for gifts that attain certain amounts. Members who contribute at these levels will receive an appropriate pin:
- Bronze – $25,000 to less than $100,000
- Silver – $100,000 to less than $250,000
- Gold – $250,000 to less than $1 million
- Platinum – $ 1 million and above
Note that members who contribute to the Annual Contribution For Life will automatically be recognized at the Silver level in the Legacy Society.
Join the Society
If you have included the Order in your estate and would like to let us know, please contact your Area Bequest Liaison or Area Councilor so that we are aware of and can acknowledge your contribution. Please fill out the appropriate paperwork for the Order. Details are provided below.
- Download and complete the Bequest Confirmation Form.
- Obtain copies of all documentation requested in the form.
- Send the confirmation form with the pertinent page of the bequest to the Order’s main office in Los Angeles or give it to your Area Liaison to send it in.
- Contact your Area Liaison, Area Councilor or the main office with any questions you may have about completing Bequest. We can help you realize your goals for your bequest.
Join Now
If you have included the Order in your estate and would like to let us know, please contact your Area Bequest Liaison or Area Councilor so that we are aware of and can acknowledge your contribution. Please fill out the appropriate paperwork for the Order. Details are provided below.
Bequests should be clearly worded in the following manner:
“I make the following bequest to be distributed outright in the sum of (amount) to the Western Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a non-profit, voluntary association of the faithful, a charitable organization, (tax ID 61-14442249) to be used specifically for support of the efforts in the Holy Land.”
You will need to provide the actual nature of the bequest after the above preamble.
When making a gift to the Order, most every form of funding is welcome including:
- Cash
- Stock
- Funds from IRA distribution
- Naming the Order as the Beneficiary of an insurance policy
- Naming the Order as part of a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
- Real Estate
- Other forms of valuable consideration
Join Now
If you have included the Order in your estate and would like to let us know, please contact your Area Bequest Liaison or Area Councilor so that we are aware of and can acknowledge your contribution. Please fill out the appropriate paperwork for the Order. Details are provided below.
Funding the Present and the Future
The Annual Contribution For Life, AC4L, provides a special opportunity for members of the Order to meet their annual contribution obligation for life as a one-time gift. This option has the additional benefit of ensuring a gift that continues to give beyond the member’s lifetime.
Members who choose the Annual Contribution For Life, are eligible for the Silver Level of the Legacy Society. This powerful contribution provides the Lieutenancy the extra advantage of a dependable stream of income for projects in the Holy Land.
The Significance of the AC4L
The member makes a one-time gift of $50,000, which can be paid over 5 years. (An annual contribution of $1000 per year is paid until the full amount is funded.) The Interest covers the member’s annual contribution for life. The Principal will become the estate gift upon the member’s passing. The member is immediately entered into the Legacy Society at the Silver Level.
Note that members who contribute to the Annual Contribution For Life will automatically be recognized at the Silver level in the Legacy Society.
Join Now
Note that members who contribute to the Annual Contribution For Life will automatically be recognized at the Silver level in the Legacy Society.
Co-Councilors: Ana Sanguineti, MD and Bill Wolf
Hawaii:
Las Vegas: George Rogers
Los Angeles: Bill Wolf
Orange: Bill and Sally Green
Phoenix: Tom Castellanos
Salt Lake City: Raymond Dardano
San Bernardino: Tom Davis
San Diego: Patty Garczynski