Stories of People Like You

Evelyn Diehl began contributing to the Humane Society in the early 1990s after one of her beloved poodles passed away and she attended one of our Pet Loss Support groups. She always had poodles – standard poodles in her younger years and toy poodles as she aged – and they were always named “Mickey.” They were her children and she doted on them. She couldn’t imagine pets not having a loving home and always sent money when she was able.

Always compassionate towards animals, her ultimate gift to Lollypop Farm came in the form of a surprise bequest in her will. Predeceased by her husband and with no children, Mrs. Diehl left her entire estate to Lollypop Farm. It is a most wonderful legacy that will perpetuate her values and beliefs and ensure that our community’s homeless pets continue to be well cared for at the Humane Society of Greater Rochester. We are forever grateful.

Contemplating retirement, cat-lover Shaggy Stoltz knew she wanted to do something to keep herself active, but wasn’t quite sure what. Then a friend recommended she volunteer at Lollypop Farm. Not wanting to bring home every cat she saw, Shaggy, a nurse for 42 years, thought maybe she could work in our veterinary clinic instead of the cat room. Unfortunately at the time, volunteers were not working in the clinic, so Shaggy decided to become a dog walker!

Under the mentorship of Clyde Glover, Shaggy not only walked dogs, she began training them too. This simple volunteer role grew over the years to providing our dogs with enrichment, bringing them to Channel __ Pet of the Week segments, and handling them for their website picture photo session.

It wasn’t long before Shaggy knew she wanted to do more, and decided to leave a legacy through a bequest in her will. “I’ve designated a specific dollar amount in support of the animals, but I may end up leaving a percentage of my entire estate to Lollypop Farm.” “That’s one of the great things about leaving a bequest; you can always change it,” states Shaggy.

For passionate donors, end of life gifts also ensure that your support will live on and that your voice is heard. For Shaggy, that was an important factor. “I feel good knowing my voice is heard and that my money will go to causes that mean the most to me.”

If you, like Shaggy, want your voice to be heard, contact Director of Development, Cathie Wright, at 585-223-1330 ext. 245

Zachary, the cat of their hearts (or Zak as the McCue’s call him), was the onus for Diane and Jerry’s legacy gift to Lollypop Farm. Having ingrained himself into the McCue’s life, they didn’t think twice about providing the care Zak would need when he became ill. Visits to the vet and emergency room became weekly home-care visits from a veterinary technician. The experience made Diane and Jerry realize how much even the most basic of veterinary care can cost, and decided they wanted to help other less fortunate cats.

The McCue’s created a trust that will benefit Lollypop Farm after their deaths. Their goal is two-fold; to maintain the high quality of care afforded to shelter pets at Lollypop Farm, and to provide on-going spay/neuter surgeries to get at the root problem of pet overpopulation. “No other organization helps build that human/animal bond like Lollypop Farm does, nor provides the same full range of services,” states Diane. “It feels good knowing we are making a difference and I would encourage anyone who has ever loved a pet to consider a bequest to Lollypop too.”

Crowned Miss USA in 1979, Mary Therese Friel always wanted a dog. When she moved out on her own at the tender age of 17, one of the first things she did was head to Lollypop Farm. “I realized right then that all my dreams could be fulfilled through Lollypop Farm, and animals have been one of the mainstays of my happiness ever since.”

She and her husband, Kent, owners of the Mary Therese Friel LLC, a comprehensive modeling agency based in Rochester, knew early on that they wanted to support Lollypop Farm. With most of their assets tied up in the business, they decided to make the Humane Society the beneficiary of their wills. “Animals can provide such peace, comfort, happiness and joy”, states Mary Therese. “We just want to make sure that other people can also experience that same joy.”

Mary Therese and Kent are pictured with Lollypop adoptees, “Pocahantis” and “Shadow.”

To determine which gift vehicle is best for you, please consult your financial advisor, attorney or estate planner. They can help you to draw up a Will, make changes or additions to your existing Will, and to understand the various tax benefits associated with philanthropic giving. For more information on making a gift to the Humane Society, please contact Cathie Wright at (585) 223-1330, ext. 245.

Among many passions, Elizabeth H. Chase loves animals, cats especially! Known as Bette, she lived next door to her in-law’s farm on Middle Road in Henrietta where there was no shortage of cats. People would continually abandon them and Bette would see to it that they were fed, and later, spayed or neutered. Even feral cats found their way to her door. So, when a financial advisor suggested setting up a Charitable Remainder Trust which would provide a fixed income for Mrs. Chase now and would benefit a charity upon her death, Bette immediately thought of the poor, abandoned cats she had cared for over the years and wanted one of her designees to be Lollypop Farm – in memory of a favorite cat, “Teensey Mae.” She met with her financial advisor, an estate attorney, and an accountant to be sure she was doing the right thing for herself and for Lollypop Farm. Then, to be sure the monies would be used according to her specific wishes, she and her daughter met with staff members at Lollypop Farm and the Elizabeth H. Chase Feline Fund in memory of Teensey Mae Chase was established. In addition to the tax benefits and the fixed income provided to Mrs. Chase through the trust, she also has the satisfaction of knowing that her charitable gift will help the organizations near and dear to her heart, and her family will benefit from reduced estate taxes and the avoidance of probate. At the time the trust transfers to Lollypop Farm, Bette’s wonderful gift will be used to help provide medical and spay/neuter services for cats, to help increase cat adoptions and address issues of overpopulation, and to reduce the abuse and suffering of cats through Lollypop Farm’s Law Enforcement activities.

Gail has been passionate about animals all of her life. In fact, she remembers bringing countless stray dogs home as a child. She found homes for some and brought others to the shelter. “I believed that each one would wind up in a loving home. While we all know this was an ‘impossible dream’, so much has changed!” Gail cites Lollypop Farm’s work on behalf of local animals, dedicated staff, strategically planned and executed special events, exceptional facilities, and financial stability as reasons for deciding to include a bequest to the organization in her will. “I know the donation will be used wisely to help my best friends, the animals, long after I’m gone” says Schilling. Gail currently works part-time at Bryant & Stratton College. She is pictured with her husband Rick and her dogs Murphy and Ryan.

Animal lovers to the core, Gaven, a member of the Pittsford Rotary, and Kathleen, Professor of Harp at the Eastman School of Music, have had an animal organization in their wills for years. When they moved to Rochester from New Jersey, they knew they had to update their wills and immediately thought of Lollypop Farm. “We had adopted Macy from Lollypop Farm soon after moving here so we already had a great relationship…” states Gaven. “It was a no-brainer.”

After losing Macy, Gaven & Kathleen adopted Luna, a Lab mix – and their relationship with Lollypop Farm continues to grow. Kathleen periodically donates household items that Lollypop Farm can always use, they’ve been to dog obedience classes with Luna, and Gaven recently joined Lollypop Farm’s Planned Giving Advisory Committee.

Gaven says it’s their way of paying back the years of unconditional love pets have given them.

After working for Monroe County for 16 years, Jean started volunteering for the Humane Society. She later worked part-time with the pet therapy and volunteer programs. Her decisions to volunteer and to include Lollypop Farm in her estate plans were motivated by her love for animals. “At first, I decided to make the Humane Society the beneficiary of my life insurance policy because it was such an easy and inexpensive thing to do. It was all done through my insurance company and I didn’t need a lawyer. Later, I also decided to leave the Humane Society a percentage of my estate and several material items in my will,” explains Jean. Jean is a great example of an animal lover who has taken advantage of a variety of ways to make planned gifts in addition to donating hours of her time each week.

“I’ve been an animal lover all my life,” says Joan Salmen. A self-confessed “farm girl” at heart, Joan and her husband, Lee, adopted their first pet from Lollypop Farm over 30 years ago. “Princess” was a Shepherd/Collie mix and the love of their life. As a result, they eventually began to contribute financially to the organization that helped save Princess’ life. Joan also began volunteering in the Lollypop Shop and then with Lollypop’s Pet Assisted Therapy team.

But their travel schedule made it difficult and Joan really wanted to be able to make a lasting difference for the Humane Society. That’s when she decided to establish a charitable remainder trust for Lollypop Farm. Together, Joan and Lee decided to give specific assets to the Humane Society once they both pass on. The trust offers substantial tax and other benefits for everyone involved – including Joan and Lee.

First, because the assets come out of their estate and into the trust, they are not subject to capital gains tax. The trust also establishes an income stream – 8% of the value of the trust – for the remainder of Joan’s life. Any interest earned over 8% goes to build the trust’s value.

The Salmen’s continue to contribute annually to Lollypop Farm, and thanks to their forward thinking, have left a legacy of love for the animals less fortunate than their own.

A riding accident in 1995 opened Mark Schork’s eyes to his own mortality. “It was a difficult time, but it made me realize what’s important in life and that I wanted to make plans for my favorite charities if something were to happen to me,” claims Mark.

He immediately thought of his dear cats, George and Gracie, and the experience he had with Lollypop Farm when he needed to surrender them. Mark had just bought a winter home in Florida and didn’t think the back and forth plane trips would be fair. “You can’t sit them down and explain to them about riding in a plane, and I certainly wasn’t going to just leave them.” That, combined with George’s house soiling that had been going on for years, made Mark realized that the dreaded day had come… he had to say goodbye to George and Gracie.

The first organization he brought them to made Mark’s difficult decision that much more painful. They did not treat him well and pre-judged him for surrendering his cats. “If they were treating me like that, how would they have treated George and Gracie?” Mark took the cats and left. He says that when he brought them to Lollypop Farm, the staff was very understanding and comforting. He appreciated their concern – and is still appreciative to this day. That is why he decided to remember Lollypop Farm in his will. “It’s so easy to do, and it makes you feel good. Everyone who has ever loved an animal should consider doing the same,” says Mark.