Phil has had a connection to LSI since his college years. While taking social work classes at Wartburg College, he was asked to tutor a student at LSI’s Bremwood Residential Treatment Center in Waverly. Even years later, he and his wife, Phyllis, continued to support LSI programming by making a donation around Christmas each year.

When Phyllis passed away in 2012, Phil began looking at their investments and considering how he could make a positive impact long-term. While at a church event, he met an LSI staff member and learned about a charitable trust program. He decided to establish four benefactors – including LSI – in his planned giving.

“LSI can use the money in a wise, caring way for people who are at risk or who really need help, and in a way that nobody else is doing.” Phil says. “Through planned giving, LSI and these other causes will be able to continue what they’re doing even when I’m gone.”

Elizabeth has been an LSI supporter for decades. LSI has an office based out of her church, and she says the services play an important role in Iowa. When she learned about LSI’s planned giving opportunities, she knew it was a good way to make an impact in the future.

“I want my support to go where it will be used the best, and I know the money will be used well at LSI,” she says. “I think that’s what God calls us to do, to use our money well.”

Paul has been familiar with LSI and all its past iterations since he was a child. After becoming a pastor, he helped establish LSI’s Muscatine office – including the HOPES House – and when he served as a pastor in Preston, he would always include a stop at LSI’s Bremwood campus in Waverly on his congregation’s confirmation trips.

Paul has also been a member of LSI leadership for 22 years, first spending 13 years on the LSI Board of Directors, then as a member of the LSI Foundation Board. Paul says that through his involvement with LSI, he has seen how important the giving of the Foundation is when programs need additional funding not provided by the State of Iowa. He has chosen to include LSI in his planned giving as a way to ensure the organization has support in the long run.

“We think that long-term, these issues that LSI seeks to deal with, they’re not going to go away. There will come a time when our regular giving to LSI will stop, so this is one way to have that support be ongoing,” Paul says. “We can continue to witness the compassion that Jesus shows to those most in need, even by our planned giving.”

If you are interested in learning more about how your estate plans can include LSI, please email Deborah.Whitford@LSIowa.org or call 563.676.2065.