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Please feel free to contact the Planned Giving team with any questions.

Toll Free: (800) 428-8884
Email: giving@hadassah.org
40 Wall Street, 8th floor
New York, NY 10005
ATTN: Planned Giving & Estates

Lori B. Lasson, JD
Chief Planned Giving & Estates Officer
(212) 303-8098
LLasson@hadassah.org

Lori joined Hadassah in 2006. She hails from Philadelphia, where she attended the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduating magna cum laude in 1980, Lori lived in Israel for a year where she taught English as a volunteer in Beit Shemesh. Following her return home to attend the Temple University School of Law, she relocated to New York, where she began her legal career, first as a litigator, before specializing in trusts and estates.

Lori lives in Brooklyn together with her husband. They have four children and three grandchildren.

Lisa S. Smith, JD
Deputy Chief Planned Giving & Estates Officer
(212) 303-8099
LSmith@hadassah.org

A Brooklyn native, Lisa joined Hadassah in 2008 after living and working in Israel for several years. Lisa oversees Hadassah's active trusts and estates program and helps members who are interested in making a legacy gift to Hadassah. Lisa previously worked as an attorney in private practice and for the federal government. Lisa graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and from New York University School of Law. Lisa is active in her synagogue and enjoys running marathons. She lives with her husband and three children in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Desiree Cameron
Associate Director, Planned Giving and Estates
(212) 803-8019
DCameron@hadassah.org

Desiree began her career in banking and economic development in Georgetown, Guyana, before immigrating to the United States. She joined Hadassah in 1998 and specializes in estate administration and planned giving. She also oversees the marketing and budgeting for the department.

Desiree graduated from Queens College with a bachelor's degree in accounting. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cycling and traveling. She currently lives in Queens with her husband and children.

Melody Sakahai

Melody Sakhai
Assistant Director, Trusts and Estates
(212) 303-4511
msakhai@hadassah.org

Melody Sakhai joined Hadassah in 2013 where she handles estates and trusts leaving gifts to Hadassah. She graduated magna cum laude from the Queens College Honors program and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

In 2011, she graduated from St. John's University School of Law, where she received the Pro Bono Service Award and was faculty assistant of the Elder Law Clinic.

She is fluent in Farsi and is a member of the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), and the American Bar Association.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Hadassah 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 Hadassah, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 40 Wall Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10005
ATTN: Planned Giving & Estates, 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 Hadassah 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 Hadassah 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 Hadassah 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 Hadassah where you agree to make a gift to Hadassah 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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A comprehensive guide to all of Hadassah's planned giving options


How to make a gift for Hadassah through a charitable gift annuity


Deferred charitable gift annuities


Using retirement assets to make a gift to Hadassah


Using life insurance to make a gift to Hadassah


Favorite ways to make a gift to Hadassah






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