Leave Your Mark on Our Community

A February 22 article in The Record about the late Bobby Kuntz got me thinking about the many ways individuals can help others, even after their death. United Way offers several opportunities for creating a lasting legacy in our community. I highlighted some of these possibilities in a letter to the editor published February 28, which I’ve repeated here:

By donating Bobby Kuntz’s brain to medical science for a concussion study, the Kuntz family is helping to support vital research that could unravel some of the mystery surrounding degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

As well as fulfilling their desire to learn if a link exists between the head injuries Kuntz sustained during his football career and the onset of Parkinson’s later in his life, the Kuntz family’s gift has the potential to make the world a better place for future generations.

Bobby Kuntz’s legacy in the football world may turn into an even greater legacy in the scientific world by supporting future developments that prevent others from having to endure a similar fate.

We all have the power to make the world a better place for future generations in a way that is personally meaningful to us and our families. Granted, donating all or part of a family member’s body — or one’s own — to research isn’t for everyone.

Consider making a charity the full or partial beneficiary of an insurance policy, or leaving a bequest in your will to a cause dear to your heart. There are many options to explore.

By considering the future needs of our community when planning a will or estate, we can help to bring about long-term sustainable change, not only for the family members we leave behind, but for our entire community and its future generations.

If you’d like to explore options for working through United Way to leave your mark on the future success of our community, please contact me at csnyder@uwaykw.org or 519-888-6100 ext. 254. You’ll also find more information at www.uwaykw.org.

Cathy Snyder
CFO