Planned Giving
Your Legacy: Greater Equity and Expanded Opportunities for Future Generations of Women
There will always be a need for a strong vocal advocate for women’s economic security. Your legacy gift continues the work of addressing the challenges of the day, whatever they may be, far into the future.
Your legacy gift will help ensure that all women will have meaningful opportunities to achieve their aspirations for themselves and their families. You can make your planned gift through wills, bequests, retirement accounts or life insurance policies. Many of these gifts provide tax benefits to the donor. It’s just a matter of planning what to give, how to give and when to give. Consult your legal advisor to determine the best way to make a planned gift and to assess its tax or other legal consequences.
When you make a planned gift, you’ll be welcomed as a member of our legacy society, Generations Circle.
The information on these pages illustrates several ways of making a planned gift, and our staff can be of even more help. Just contact us.
Mary Gardner: Building a Legacy of Impact
Mary Gardner
When Mary Gardner moved to Chicago in 2001, she was at a pivotal point in her life and in her career. As Director of Risk Management for a national chain of department stores, Mary’s role was “eye-opening.”
“From the in-store employees to the corporate office employees who left home at 4:00 a.m. to come to work, I witnessed firsthand the challenges many women faced at home and on the job,” Mary recalls. “In my early years, I was focused on my own career. Honestly, I just didn’t realize or understand the underlying realities and barriers for many women in the workplace.”
Mary came to better understand her own privilege and how the struggles that so many working women faced were “under the radar.” When she was introduced to Women Employed and invited to join the Board of Directors, Mary was enthused. She recognized that WE’s “approach to systemic change and process-oriented progress” was a great match with her risk management background!
“During the years I’ve been involved with WE, I’ve continued to be impressed with the forward-thinking programs and policies supporting women—fair scheduling, equal pay, access to financial aid, the career pathways programs—just to mention a few.”
As the grandmother of two bi-racial girls, Mary’s commitment is personal. “The future they may face with some of the issues in our country” is reflected in Mary’s decision to provide Women Employed with a legacy gift as a designated beneficiary of her IRA.
Ever the risk management professional, Mary reflects, “Having noted the risks, I’m still an optimistic woman! Why? Because Women Employed rallies the will, strength, and focus of individuals, corporations, educational institutions, and local, state, and national government to continue working for racial equity, educational success, equal pay, and fair workplaces.”
Because of Mary Gardner and her risk-management style of thinking, Women Employed will be here to continue the fight well into the future. Thank you, Mary!
The Anne Ladky Leadership Fund is a giving opportunity that supports efforts to inspire and engage new leaders in women’s economic justice issues and expand Women Employed’s impact. Your gift to the Fund will empower the next generation of women to lead the work of Women Employed—as advocates, board members, ambassadors, and civic leaders—to strengthen the future for all women.
If you are considering making a planned gift to Women Employed and are interested in learning more about designating it to the Anne Ladky Leadership Fund, contact Linda Ballard, Development Officer, at 312-448-7647 or lballard@womenemployed.org.
Women Employed
1 E. Wacker Drive • Suite 2520 • Chicago, Illinois 60601
Ph. 312 782 3902 • Fax. 312 620 9736