“I’m just one person”

After a lifetime of serving her community as a teacher in the Maryvale neighborhood in Phoenix, Jane McBride settled down in Mesa for her retirement. When she learned about St. Vincent de Paul and the work that benefits the people and communities she served for so long, she knew she wanted to give back in an effective, long-lasting way. That’s why she set up a charitable gift annuity with the organization.  

Jane McBride spent more than 20 years teaching in the challenging Maryvale neighborhood in Phoenix. Known for its high poverty and crime rates, Jane knew she had her work cut out for her, but that didn’t stop her from making close connections, motivating, and inspiring her students.  

She saw firsthand what growing up impoverished looks like, and can relate dozens of stories about the need in the community. That’s why when she retired and relocated to Mesa, she knew she still wanted to stay involved with her community. When she was invited to a luncheon hosted by St. Vincent de Paul, she jumped at the chance.  

She learned about many of the programs SVdP offers, including the dental clinic, food box home visits, and the shelter that allows guests to stay with their pets.  

“I was really happy that they were there, it was so impressive,” she said. “I thought the programs were great… they treated [people in need] as people and not as problems… Anytime you call up, people are friendly, and they actually answer the phone.”

Jane had consistently donated to causes throughout her life, but now that she knew about the difference SVdP was making in the community, she wanted to find a way to give back that would be helpful and long-lasting.  

“I got to thinking, like, I'm just one person, and SVdP is set up with a lot of people that do a lot,” she said.

When she met with her financial planner, they were going over options, and she learned about a charitable gift annuity.  

“My financial planner suggested it,” she said. “He asked me to check into all these options, and they were in the weeds. All the stuff from a financial planning perspective. And he was very impressed with the fact that all the boxes were checked.”

A charitable gift annuity is a life-long contract where the donor donates a lump sum of money that the organization invests. The donor (or annuitant) receives fixed payments for life from the investments, and when the donor passes away, the lump sum is fully given to the organization.  

For Jane, it seemed like a great setup. She had the money to make a lump-sum donation, and in the end, she would be giving a large donation to SVdP. She contacted SVdP and coordinated with the development team to set up the annuity.

On top of the annuity, she has also put in her will that the majority of her furniture and possessions be donated to SVdP’s thrift stores, which support the wider mission of the organization.  

Jane doesn’t plan on going away anytime soon, but she’s proud to be involved with SVdP and to support its mission even when her time passes.

“SVdP is doing what I can't do when I see people in the street. I just want to be able to do more of that,” she said. “I want to help organizations that can do that. And it really means a lot to me that I can support it in this way.” 

If you'd like to learn more about charitable gift annuities or leaving a legacy at SVdP please contact Charles Putbrese.