For the Harts, a Mercy Corps legacy gift will make a difference into the future
When their children were born, Janet and Richard Hart had many decisions to make – including what kind of legacy they wanted to leave behind. They decided to empower some of the world’s most vulnerable communities to build stronger, thriving futures by including Mercy Corps in their family’s estate plan – making a difference for generations to come.
“Our parents instilled in us the idea that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect,” says Janet Hart. “We choose to support organizations that embody this ideal.”
That’s why Janet and her husband Richard chose to leave a percent of their estate to Mercy Corps. It fits right in line with their core values: making the world a little better, for generations to come.
“It is empowering to take stock of your values and determine how you want to make a small difference in the lives of others,” Janet says. “Planned gifts allow you to do just that.”
Janet and Richard began their relationship with Mercy Corps in 2004. After watching an interview on CNN with a member of the Mercy Corps team in the midst of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that rocked Indonesia, it became clear to them that Mercy Corps was not just a relief organization, but was also there to support communities through the months and years to come – even after the initial crisis had subsided.
Janet’s personal experience doing charity work and serving on nonprofit boards told her Mercy Corps would be a great fit.
“Mercy Corps doesn’t just descend on a community and dictate to them how problems should be solved. They work collaboratively with local authorities to implement responsible solutions.”
Janet’s story is inspiring and important, but perhaps what inspires the most hope is that it’s not exclusive: Anyone from anywhere can make Mercy Corps part of their lasting legacy – including you.
Want to know more about this process? Here are some resources that can help you learn more and make it happen: