"I know all too well what it's like to be hospitalized," says Norma Fethler. She spent the entire first nine years of her life between a hospital for crippled children near Chicago and a convalescent home in nearby St. Charles, Illinois. She had contracted tuberculosis in her hip bone, resulting in multiple surgeries and lingering problems.
Fast forward 50 years. Norma, her husband, Robert (Bob), and their 16-year-old daughter, Dondi, moved into their new home in Rancho Bernardo, north of San Diego. Years later, Norma and Bob moved to a Del Webb retirement community in Sun City West, Arizona. They held on to their much-loved house in California for Dondi, should she ever need it. After Dondi's untimely death, Norma and Bob decided to give the house, to Rady Children's in exchange for a charitable gift annuity.
Donors, like Norma and Bob, who make a gift of real estate held for more than a year, may obtain a significant income tax deduction. Best of all, when choosing a charitable gift annuity to help make their gift, they receive a guaranteed income for the rest of their lives.
Norma and Bob, now in their 70's, love their new home in Arizona. The community offers an abundance of amenities and activities, including five swimming pools, "bocce" (the Italian version of lawn bowling) and miniature golf. Despite her lifelong disability, Norma enjoys ceramics and other crafts clubs. She and Bob have traveled all over the United States.
"We lost our precious Dondi, our one and only child," explains Norma. "But, through our charitable gift annuity, all the kids at Rady Children's are now ours. It meant so much to us to be able to help them have healthier and happier lives."
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.