Last week, the family of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity suddenly lost one of our newest volunteers, a delightful woman named Linda Spencer.  Linda’s husband, Doug, has been a volunteer with us for about a year as a budget tutor and electrical crew member, and a few months ago, Linda decided she would like to join him and become a volunteer in our office on Fridays.  She was a very young 61 years old, and in her all-too-brief time with us, Linda’s smile and contagious enthusiasm had become a bright spot for all of us on Fridays.  She will be greatly missed, and we send our deepest sympathies to her husband and family for their sudden loss as they move through the coming weeks and months.

As always, the sudden and unexpected death of anyone in our family or personal circle of friends engenders a wide range of emotions.  It also serves as a reminder of both the brevity and uncertainty of life, and reinforces the importance of planning for this world and beyond.

In previous editions of our newsletter, we have used this space to acknowledge the incredible value of our dedicated volunteers.  On Friday night, August 27, 2010, we celebrated the Silver Anniversary of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity, an event that never would have been reached without the ongoing support and commitment of thousands of people over a quarter century.  During the next 25 years, we have the intent to continue to be responsive to the low-income community by teaching them successful homeownership, but it is important that we have the resources in order to do that.

Estate planning is becoming even more critical in these days of economic uncertainty.  Providing for a more secure financial future for your family is one of the most important acts of kindness an individual can undertake.  In a similar manner, including Knoxville Habitat for Humanity in your estate plan – whether through an annuity or other insurance instrument, a direct bequest, or one of the many other forms such a gift can take – is a gesture to insure that this mission and ministry we all love will continue its work far into the future. 

If you have already included Knoxville Habitat for Humanity in your estate plan, we offer our thanks.  If not, we hope you will talk with your attorney and financial advisor about the options available to you.  As noted in earlier articles, you can restrict your bequest to a specific area of need or interest within this organization, or you can provide for general support of the overall mission; the choice is yours to make.

Whatever your choice, please know that we will use your resources wisely to have the broadest impact in bettering the lives of those in need