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Marilyn Weinstein, at 90, divides her year between the two places she calls home: Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she grew up and raised her own family, and Naples, Florida, where she spends the winter. Ask what matters most to her, though, and you'll see she has a special love for a third place: Jerusalem, Israel.

"I've been there four times," she explains. "I tour the Hadassah Hospital [HMO] each time, and it's just wonderful. It doesn't matter what color you are or what religion you are—nobody is turned away. Everybody is welcome at Hadassah [HMO]."

That resonates for Marilyn, who shared a love of community with her late husband, Louis. The two met at the University of Minnesota and married in 1945, moving to Green Bay a few years later. That's where he launched his dream of opening a children's shoe store—Lou's Bootery. "He loved kids," Marilyn recalls, adding that he came to be known as "Lou the Boot." He also became a strong supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Bay and worked for 32 years as a play clock operator at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers.

Meanwhile, Marilyn—known as "Mrs. Boot"—poured her energies into their two children, Tom and Nancy, as well as Hadassah, which her mother had also served. When she was named a chapter president, Marilyn made her mother a life member and her father an associate. After their deaths, she memorialized them with Yahrzeit donations through Hadassah. When Lou passed away in October 2007, she added a Yahrzeit donation in his name.

Giving Back
A few years ago, Marilyn visited Israel with a cousin and a close friend. There, she stood at the iconic Marc Chagall stained glass windows in the Abbell Synagogue at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem—especially meaningful because she and Lou had stood there together on a trip to mark their 25th wedding anniversary, and because her gifts meant that her loved ones' names would be included in prayers recited there annually.

Recently, she added to her family's legacy by establishing  charitable gift annuities with Hadassah for her children's benefit. The gifts, which she says were easy to set up, will help provide security during their retirement years by offering regular, fixed payments. Most importantly, after their lifetimes, the remainder will support Hadassah's lifesaving work.

"The hospital is known for its research," she says. "It's wonderful to know that all kinds of people—in Israel and worldwide—are going to benefit."

Honor Loved Ones
There are many ways to honor or memorialize loved ones through your gifts to Hadassah. Contact Planned Giving & Estates at (800) 428-8884 or giving@hadassah.org to discuss your options.

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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