Donor Profile: Fred and Mary Anna Feitler

“I feel better when I share,” said Mary Anna Feitler, when asked her motivation for giving. “I can’t remember not giving. I was brought up with a strong sense of duty--to family, church, worthy organizations, and causes. And as a result, donations of time, talent, and resources followed right along.”

Fred Feitler agrees. “Perhaps I was just fortunate to be surrounded by parents, other family, and friends who, by example, showed the value and pleasure derived from sharing with others, especially those less fortunate. When people knocked on our door looking for a monetary handout, I remember my mother inviting them into our home and making them a sandwich and a glass of milk right on the spot. What an example!”

The Feitlers have built on their parents’ example by creating a trust through which they are able:

• to provide for their own end-of-life needs,
• to provide for their children and grandchildren,
• to provide for their favorite charities--including Friends General Conference, and
• to minimize their estate taxes.

Friends General Conference

Mary Anna and Fred met, became friends and got married while serving on the Publications and Distribution Committee of FGC. They are both long-time Gathering participants, too. Over the years, many FGC staff, Gathering attendees, and Central Committee members “have

become wonderful friends and actively involved in our lives. We have grown with and been nurtured by these great people. Thus, our service to FGC is both a reunion and a renewal of our spirits,” said Fred.

As Mary Anna sums it up: “FGC is a dynamic organization, fostering beliefs that we share, educating and encouraging young and old Quakers, and being a light in the world--how could we not want to support an organization that will help maintain a practical, spiritual presence in a difficult world?”

When is the right time to think about planned giving?

Fred and Mary Anna counsel people to think about planned giving early. Fred notes, “When I began working, the majority of workers had employer sponsored retirement plans. Today, fewer than one third of workers have such plans.” That means you must be more pro-active in your financial planning; and, the more complicated your situation, the earlier you should begin.

“As a planner by vocation,” said Fred, “I want to make the choices about who gets what and where my money, investments, and personal property go.” Planned giving helps people balance their philanthropic and financial goals while providing a framework for discussing these decisions with family members.

It’s not always easy, but there is satisfaction in making a plan.

It can be difficult to face end-of-life decisions, and people often avoid estate planning. But, not having a plan IS a plan—a plan for others (too often, the government) to decide how to divide your estate.

“I probably would not have been so intentional had I not married Fred and had a blended family and a slew of grandchildren, and some interesting health issues to deal with,” said Mary Anna. “In our estate plans we first considered the children and grandchildren, but the organizations we have named in our trust are also very meaningful to us. We are satisfied knowing at the end, things will be as we want them.”

Thank you!

Friends General Conference is so grateful to Fred and Mary Anna for their example of good stewardship, their commitment to helping others, and their gift to FGC.

**************

Have you included FGC in your estate plans? Would you like sample bequest language or help planning a gift? Please contact Michael Wajda or Carrie Glasby. You may reach them at plannedgiving@fgcquaker.org or 215-561-1700.