When you swing by Judy Mason's home in The Villages, Florida, the first thing you'll notice is her garden. "My yard is planted with pollinators in mind, because I appreciate and know the value of what bees, birds and butterflies do in terms of pollinating plants and crops," Judy explains. Her favorite plant? The Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow shrub (yes, like the name of our newsletter!), whose blossoms start out purple, fade to lavender and then finish pure white. "All three colors of flower are on the same plant at the same time. It's magnificent."
But gardening also has deeper meaning for Judy. Growing up, she didn't have much opportunity to plant roots. "I've lived in 10 different states in my lifetime, and I think I've moved 22 times," she says. It began when her parents divorced. "It was a very difficult time," she says. But then she discovered Young Judaea, "a total lifeline." Young Judaea, and more specifically summer camp, was where Judy made lifelong friendships that would sustain her no matter where she lived.
Good thing, too, because Judy ended up marrying a military man—which meant more moves. Even if her family didn't stay in one place long enough to become affiliated with the local synagogue, Hadassah was a constant. "No matter where I was, I always got the magazine, and the local chapters helped me stay connected," she says.
Those strong connections continue to influence Judy's life choices. "When I put together my estate plan, I felt that giving to good organizations was the right thing to do," she says. "I've always felt extremely grateful for how Hadassah has helped to shape my life. I wanted to give back."
Judy created two charitable gift annuities, in which she made a gift and receives regular, fixed payments in return. After her lifetime, the remainder will benefit Hadassah. The gift annuities reflect the impact Hadassah had on her past, supplement her income now and will sustain Hadassah in the future. It's in keeping with the beauty of her favorite plant—yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Contact Planned Giving & Estates at (800) 428-8884 or giving@hadassah.org to learn how you can receive lifetime payments today and make an impact on Hadassah's work tomorrow.