How one woman’s gift empowers seniors
Leaving a planned gift is not about impressing people. Instead, it’s about creating a lasting legacy by providing dollars to develop programs you care about passionately.
That’s at least how Joan — a rather reserved Southdale YMCA community member — felt about it when she quietly made a transformational gift that will not just sustain but expand senior programs at the Y, now called ForeverWell.
Joan B. Hanson was a special education teacher at Cornelia Elementary School in Edina, where she served for over thirty years. Joan impacted thousands of students and still found the time to stay active, both physically and in her community. As a life-long learner, she truly enjoyed traveling and socializing with her colleagues and community members.
For decades, Joan was a longtime neighbor to the Southdale Y. Once she became a member, Joan was that active person who always wanted to be moving. With no fanfare, Joan graciously created a bequest in her estate plans that established an endowment through a generous gift of $270,000. The interest earned from the endowment will continue to support ForeverWell program development, year after year in perpetuity. What a legacy!
With this gift, the Southdale Y is promoting new senior programming. “We listen to our members,” said ForeverWell Coordinator, Maureen Bowen, “and they want to re-launch the Walking Club, begin partner-style dance classes, and host more luncheons.” Maureen adds that Joan’s fund will fuel the “synergy” between fitness and friendships among seniors.
Everyone who knew Joan would echo that she was dedicated to seeing more seniors being able to access ForeverWell programs, build connections, and remain physically and mentally active. This is the essence of what ForeverWell at the Y is. Quiet as she was, Joan would be thrilled to know that the expansion of senior programs will have a loud impact for generations to come with her gift.