LEGACY CIRCLE
Make the most lasting gift of all by remembering Cedars in your estate plans.
For over 100 years, Cedars has inspired individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach for and achieve their dreams.
Through membership in Cedars Legacy Circle, you will help secure a strong and vibrant future for Cedars for the next 100 years. Planned gifts sustain our mission, while benefiting you and your heirs and leaving a lasting legacy of philanthropy.

To learn more about Cedars Legacy Circle, please contact
Jeanne Lipson, Development Director, at jeanne@cedarslife.org or at 415-526-1354
Ways to Join the Legacy Circle
-
Bequests: You can make a bequest by simply naming Cedars in your will or trust. The gift may be for a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. Or, you can leave a specific asset, such as real estate, to Cedars.
-
Retirement Accounts: You can name Cedars as the partial or sole beneficiary of your IRA, 401(K), 403(B) or other retirement assets. This can be a tax-efficient and simple method to avoid income and estate taxes.
-
Life Insurance: By giving Cedars an existing policy or naming Cedars as the partial or sole beneficiary of your policy, you can make a gift that is significantly larger than your out-of-pocket cost.
-
You can make a gift through other tax-advantaged structures such as a Charitable Remainder Trust or a Charitable Gift Annuity. Your tax and estate planning professional can advise you on these more involved gift planning options.
Please note that Cedars does not provide legal or tax advice. You’ll want to consult with your attorney and tax advisor to help you with your estate planning.
If you have already included Cedars in your estate plans or intend to do so, please let us know so that we can thank you personally and welcome you to this special group of committed supporters.
Complete a letter of Intent form and contact:
Jeanne Lipson
(415) 526-1354
A Lasting Gift

"My brother Mike, one of five boys from a very close-knit family, has been at Cedars since 2007. When we found Cedars, I thought about when we all went away to college and had life-changing experiences living among our peers. Mike was always envious of that, and now he has that and more. He is thrilled with all the social activities and life in a larger community. Cedars has a formula that works – a vision, commitment and real stability for Mike and our family. In the face of state budget cuts and rising costs, I know that legacy gifts are absolutely critical to Cedars own long-term stability and that of siblings and extended families after us so I’m happy to be part of Cedars Legacy Circle. "
Steve M. , Los Altos, California

"Cedars has been the home of our son, Tony, for more than 60 years – and, even more importantly, has become his family, too. It’s just amazing to see Tony’s growth! With Cedars help, he has discovered his creative talents as a working artist and has won awards in juried shows. We are so proud of him.
Because we are enormously grateful, our family has named Cedars as a beneficiary of our estate plan, and we encourage other families to join us. We want to ensure a secure future for Cedars, all of its families and the children we have yet to meet."
Harold H., Watsonville, California
Legacy Circle Members
The following individuals have thoughtfully joined the Legacy Circle, designating Cedars as a beneficiary in their estate planning:
Anonymous Donors
Douglas G. Adams Revocable Trust *
Ruth Dwight Adams
Jim Alpers Trust *
Antrobus Charitable Remainder Trust *
Barbie Bailard *
Burton Barnes
Roma Barnes
Mary and David Barter
Carol and Martin Beebee
Jane Brown Butler
Peter Cahill *
Lexie and Scott Clifford
Lee Diane Collins Vest
Jane Crocker *
Susan Crocker *
Larry and Ramona Curtis
Carrie and Michael Drilling
Margaret Ellis
Judy and Scott Erickson
Jennifer Fowler
Janet and Roger Freeburg
Mary and Greg Gordon
Gail and Chuck Greene
Carla and Hank Greenwald
Harold Hyde and Family
Connie Johnson
Suzanne Joy and Gary Johnson
Robyn L. Kirschner *
Elizabeth and Anthony Kjellgren
Stu Leeb *
Betty and Robert LeFevre
Elliot Levin
Jeanne and Michael Lipson
Stannye and Peter Llwellyn
Elizabeth and Steve McDermott
Barbara McGrath *
Brenda McIvor
Renee and Beryl Mell
Madeline Miller
Martha Miller
Hester Nau
Andree Owens Trust *
Connie and Silsby Pelissero
David Peterson
Holly Peterson
James Peterson
Michael Peterson
Peter G. Peterson *
Ina Chun and Jefferson Rice
May Nanette Rice *
Michele and Michael Ritter
Anna and Mark Rosen
Jane and Terry Ross
Bernard and Ruth Roth
Kathleen Ryan
Helen and Fred Schwartz
Barbara Shell
Sue Sherer
Margaret and Robert Sideroff
Lidia P. Smith
Stephen Shaw and Spencer Shaw
Debra and Richard Stutsman
Corrine and George Trendle *
Vivian Walter Trust
John and Barbara West
Cheryl White
Flora and Fred Wolf
* Posthumous.
List does not include individuals whose estate gift was received prior to 2010.
I plan to leave a generous gift to Cedars in my will because of what this wonderful organization has done for my sister, Toni. She has thrived here for the past decade. I want to honor the work that Cedars has done to transform her into an active member of an amazing community. The great thing about donating in my will is that it’s easy to donate cash, property or stocks, and my gift won’t affect cash flow during my lifetime. I encourage you to consider doing the same!
Anna R., San Francisco, California