Valerie S. Beeman is a longtime supporter of Wildlife SOS, and has been a recurring donor for almost a decade. She recently included a legacy gift to Wildlife SOS in her will, and her enthusiasm for our work inspired her to tell us why her charitable bequest was so important to her. We’re humbled and honoured to include caring, compassionate people like Valerie as part of our Wildlife Champions legacy program.
To learn more about leaving a legacy gift to make a lasting impact for India’s precious wildlife, visit wildlifesos.org/legacy or email [email protected]. We even partner with the service Freewill, who will walk you through the estate planning process. There’s no cost or financial obligation, but we hope you’re encouraged to leave a legacy for wildlife.
Believe it or not, I never really understood what “making a charitable bequest” meant. I figured, I’m not rich, so that must not apply to me. Then, after my husband and I retired, we needed to update our will. The attorney asked if we wanted to identify any one-time payments to charities; we quickly said yes, and designated Wildlife SOS as one of the recipients. So now we are among the “charitable bequest” givers! When Wildlife SOS reached out to ask me to share why setting up a gift in my will was important, I agreed to write a few thoughts in case they are helpful to others.
Q. How did you realize it was possible to designate a donation to Wildlife SOS in your will?
A. I have been a longtime supporter of Wildlife SOS, and donate monthly to two of their programs. I feel the work they do is so important to not only the animals they care for, but for people, too; we learn more about how they live and use the knowledge to identify better ways to co-exist. I remember seeing Wildlife SOS emails or newsletter articles about “planned giving,” so when our attorney surfaced the topic, it was easy to make the designation.
Q. How does the donation to Wildlife SOS work when you have family members or others in your will?
A. My attorney said it is very straightforward: Once my husband and I have passed on and funds from the sale of our house, retirement savings, or other investments is distributed to those designated in the will, then the one-time donations to designated charities is made. We were advised to identify a specific amount instead of a percentage, but I would think if you are updating your will, your attorney can advise you about that.
Q. Why is making a donation like this important for non-profit charities like Wildlife SOS?
A. Having worked for a non-profit organization in the past, I know how difficult it can be to secure funding for programs, staffing, outreach, and more, and I know that every dollar is critical when funding sources can change or “dry up.” For Wildlife SOS, I can imagine that the costs of their medical and animal care facilities are significant and yet have made such a positive impact in India, that I wanted to help in any way I could, even after I’ve passed away. And for some of the animals in their care, such as elephants, they live very long lives and need food, shelter and medical care for decades, so continued funding is literally a lifeline for them.
Q. What were some of your reasons for including Wildlife SOS?
A. First, I have the utmost respect for the work they are doing, especially when it comes to positively influencing the culture in India to treat animals with care. Several examples that resonate with me are the initiatives to ban elephant riding, find ways to keep elephants from being killed by trains, and to protect all wild animals in India from open wells.
Beyond that, I feel that elephants are some of the most intelligent and intuitive animals on our planet, and their numbers are dwindling, and Wildlife SOS advocates so well for their protection in addition to treating their injuries and caring for them. I have cried at the stories of some of the animals who have needed the love and care of Wildlife SOS team members, and I feel the staff are selfless in giving these animals the best lives possible. Since I’m a retiree and giving a large sum is difficult with managing everyday expenses on a fixed income, I was happy to be able to designate a lump sum in my will that will help them with their work.
Q. There are tons of charities that help animals; why are you designating Wildlife SOS in your will?
A. I greatly admire the work that Wildlife SOS does. I also give when I can to animal shelters near where I live. I think that because I have a particular affinity for elephants, and I know they live a very long time, I was excited to support Wildlife SOS.
My husband and I had a daughter who was a prolific painter, and I passed my love of elephants to her. I recall one Mother’s Day, she gifted me a painting she had made of a baby elephant with its trunk stretched high into the starry night sky. (When I see the painting now, I think of Bani, seeking her mother.) During the pandemic, our daughter died at age 27, and maybe someday I can part with that painting for the Wildlife SOS auction, but for now, designating a donation in my will is something positive I can do that feels like kind of a legacy for us, as well as on behalf of our late daughter, to strive to give as much as possible to help animals in need.
I’m keenly aware that animals can’t speak up for themselves; they rely on all of us to speak up for them, and I feel like Wildlife SOS is an incredible champion and caregiver for them, and so very, very worthy of my “charitable bequest.”
