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Meaningful Gift Honors Multi-Generation Legacy

Originally a gift to Nels Lindquist from his father, a Swedish Bible has been passed down through Nels's family for generations and presently resides with Kevin Meyer, his great-grandson.

It was in the pages of this Bible that Meyer recently uncovered a receipt for a $10 gift to Bethphage, one of Mosaic's legacy organizations, dating back to 1925.

"We can now say our family has been connected to Bethphage for at least 92 years," Meyer said. "It's exciting to know we go back that far, that our family was aware of Bethphage back then and supported it."

Meyer's great-grandfather homesteaded about eight miles from Bethphage Village Campus in Axtell, Neb. and his grandparents, Carl and Esther Lindquist, actively supported Bethphage throughout their lifetimes.

"It was just something you did in Axtell," said Meyer's sister, Karna Converse. "You helped out organizations in the local community, and the whole community embraced Bethphage."

Growing up, Bethphage was simply part of life for Meyer and Converse, whose parents, Rex and Janet Meyer, were just as committed to the organization as previous generations.

"I remember going to the campus as a kid when we visited our grandparents," Meyer said. "My dad, who was a Sunday School superintendent [at our church in Grand Island, Neb.], would collect Christmas gifts for the campus every year."

"We helped collect the gifts at Christmastime," Converse said. "That was the way my parents brought the message of Bethphage to the Grand Island area."

Meyer and Converse said they feel it is important to honor their parents' legacy.

"I think it's always good to recognize and remember what was important to previous generations and learn why it was important to them," Converse said.

Meyer, who serves on The Mosaic Foundation Board of Directors, said the family's multi-generation legacy of supporting Mosaic's mission is "pretty meaningful."

"It shows our family values," he said. "They existed three generations before me and continue today. Each generation has believed in Mosaic and what it does."

"We like the story of the legacy, but it's more than that," Meyer continued. "We each make the choice to continue that legacy, and we make sure our kids are aware of what Mosaic does and why it's important to us."

Meyer's mother Janet was influential in his decision to join the Board, which she also served on from 1995-2003.

"Throughout my life, she was always supportive, but would never push," Meyer said. "Except when it came to me joining the Mosaic board. She was very direct about it and said, 'I think you should do this.'"

Upon her passing in early 2017, Janet gifted half of the proceeds from the sale of her family's land near Axtell to Mosaic – a gift that carried with it generations of meaning.

"The land had only ever been in our family's hands," Meyer said. "By donating the proceeds of the sale to Mosaic, that land continues to support the values of our family."

Meyer shared that his family discussed the decision to make this gift in advance.

"It's an important conversation for people to have," he said. "What your parents' estate plan is, what gifts they'd like to make through that plan and then supporting choices that are important to them."

"Mosaic was very important to my mother for many different reasons," Meyer said. "It was a real tie to her childhood and lineage. One of the reasons she made a gift of this magnitude is that it became a gift from her family. She had a great emotional attachment to that land, as well as an emotional attachment to Bethphage. She was proud that something that started in Axtell has now expanded far beyond Nebraska. She had trust in the people at Mosaic and the way they led the organization. Because of that trust, she felt comfortable making the gift."

"Mom was always proud to say she was from Axtell and proud that the community supported Bethphage," Converse said. "She was also proud of the forward movement of the organization, making it stronger and more viable for the future."

You, too, can make great things happen for people with disabilities for generations to come by including Mosaic in your estate plan Contact Jaime Corsar at 402.896.3884, Ext. 31106 or jaime.corsar@mosaicinfo.org to learn more.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Mosaic a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I give [specific dollar amount, description of specific property, all the residue, or a percent of the residue] to The Mosaic Foundation, Omaha, Nebraska, a non-profit Nebraska corporation, to (select one):

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to Mosaic or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Mosaic as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to Mosaic as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and Mosaic where you agree to make a gift to Mosaic and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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