Planned Giving Makes a Splash
Growing up in a family that appreciated the outdoors, Curtis Lundy has long had a passion for protecting and improving our natural resources. Years ago, on a bike ride near Duck Creek, he wondered about the water quality of the stream running beside him. Knowing that many of our nation's waters are threatened by pollution, he turned such thoughts into action and began working in earnest to improve our environment.
His volunteer work includes the Izaak Walton League's Save Our Streams program, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources IOWATER program and the Xstream Cleanup effort, which he has chaired for seven years. He also serves on the boards of the Living Land & Waters and the Nahant Marsh Education Center in Davenport.
Curtis and his fellow volunteers often consider the legacy they are leaving. Through their tireless work, they help improve the quality of life for everyone. By example, and through outreach efforts in the community, they spread the word about the importance of caring for our fragile environment.
But they also want to ensure the programs and organizations they believe in have reliable sources of funding far into the future. By encouraging planned gifts, such as bequests, environmental organizations can build endowment that will provide permanent resources for their important work.
Once again leading by example, in 2012 Curtis turned to the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend to make provisions for causes he cares about in his will, like Living Lands & Waters. By including the Community Foundation in his estate plans, Curtis is part of a distinguished group of individuals belonging to CFGRB's Legacy Society. His estate gift will establish the CL Foundation, a fund that will provide support to four organizations Curtis selected. Because the distribution from Curtis's Community Foundation fund to these organizations will be unrestricted, the organizations will have the flexibility to meet whatever needs may exist at that time.
"Planned giving does not have to be complicated. I chose a simple and inexpensive route," said Curtis, who recently retired from service as the chief financial officer at THE National Bank. "My future gift has not and will not affect or limit my financial situation while I am alive."
He added, "I have seen the long-term value of planned giving from prior generations and I think it is wise to follow this tradition. With this plan I can continue to fund activities that I feel close to and that are vital to the community."