<img src="{filedir_1}bubbles-chimp-3.jpg" width="180" height="272" class="floatleft" />Mort and Gloria have a love affair with apes. It began nearly two decades ago when they sold their unspoiled Florida property to the <a href="http://www.centerforgreatapes.org/" title="Center for Great Apes" target="_blank">Center for Great Apes</a> for their new home. The Center’s mission is the conservation of orangutans and chimpanzees that have been used in entertainment, as pets or have become too old to continue in those roles. The center provides a natural habitat and state-of-the-art nutrition and veterinary care.

Little did they realize the joy they would eventually have to support the Center in a more significant way and see the transformation take place in their lifetimes.
 
Meeting with Gary Cotter, their Certified Financial Planner, they discussed their plans to leave money to the Center to help with the continuation of their invaluable work. Rather than a gift at death, Gary suggested a reinsured <a href="http://waterstone.org/index.php?/solutions/charitable_gift_annuity" title="WaterStone Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)">WaterStone Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)</a>, which would make the residual funds available to the Center immediately.  Using some of their appreciated stock from their portfolio to fund the annuity, it was an ideal way to receive a number of tax benefits and an addition to their income. 
 
<i>The CGA was the perfect solution:</i> the immediate charitable income tax deduction, the ability to sell appreciated stock without immediate taxation and a cash-flow stream from the annuity that is 40% higher than the stock dividends—and it is tax favored to boot.
 
<i>Now comes the greatest part of the story:</i> the advisor and his wife drove Mort and Gloria to the center to meet with Patti Ragan, the director, now considered a close friend. After a quick tour of the 120-acre facility, Patti invited them to have lunch in her home, the very same home Mort had built before selling the property. After the meal, Mort presented the check to Patti who was taken aback by the amount of the gift; it was enough to underwrite the entire cost of a planned outdoor geodesic dome habitat.  
 
WaterStone’s solution allowed Mort and Gloria to see the impact of their gift at work and to know their name will be placed on the facility in recognition of their gift.  The day ended with a warm glow on everyone’s face; they left knowing that something <i>really special</i> had happened. 
 
<i>WaterStone calls this experiencing God’s joy in your giving.</i>
 
Experience the joy of more intimate giving to <i>your</i> favorite charities, while increasing your income and benefiting from tax advantages. Contact WaterStone by {encode="waterstone@waterstone.org" title="email"} or phone at 719.447.4620 for your free, no obligation personal Charitable Gift Annuity proposal.

For a print version of this article, <a href="{filedir_1}Using-Assets.pdf">download the pdf</a>.

