While current use donations are critical to organizational success, did you know that BLCI also accepts estate gifts as a meaningful way to support our mission for the long term? When you include BLCI in your estate plans, your generosity helps break the cycle of poverty by creating pathways to education for underserved youth. As more and more BLCI students graduate college and achieve success, they transform communities and create a ripple effect of positive change.
Why should you consider BLCI in your estate plans?
- Sustain Long-Term Impact: Educational success takes time and sustained effort. Your planned gift ensures BLCI programs thrive for years to come and allows you the opportunity to invest in the next generation, empowering students to reach their full potential. Help #BeThePath to education and opportunity.
- Create Opportunities: Your gift can help remove barriers to education, providing underserved students with access to the tools and support they need to succeed. Together, we can #BeThePath to success.
- Expand Educational Access: A Planned Gift ensures that more students, especially those from underserved communities, can benefit from programs that prepare them for college and beyond. Your commitment helps #BeThePath to opportunity for those who need it most.
- Empower Future Leaders: Your gift supports initiatives that nurture leadership and innovation, building a legacy of empowered individuals. #BeThePath to a future led by those you inspire.
By making a planned gift, you ensure that BLCI can sustain and grow, transforming the lives of even more students for generations to come. This was the case for Jolyn Parker. Jolyn learned about BLCI’s work through the San Diego Women’s Foundation in 2004. Once she got involved, she never left. She credits the students’ success and their ability to persevere as one of the key reasons she chose to remain a lifelong volunteer—and ultimately include BLCI in her estate plans, “The student stories of their challenges and accomplishments to make it to college are nothing short of remarkable. I know I am making a difference in the lives of children directly when I donate and give my time and talents to this organization.”
Learn more about Jolyn and her legacy gift below.
Have you already named BLCI in your estate or have questions about planned giving? Please contact Erin@BLCI.org for more information or to be added to our Planned Giving appreciation list.
Read on to learn more about Jolyn and the impact she will make for future generations of BLCI youth.
BLCI: What has motivated you to stay on as a volunteer and donor for so many years?
J.P: I call this my “heart” organization. My mother was Puerto Rican and many times I have said “I see my mother in the eyes of our students”. She would have been so involved in an organization like this if she had the chance when she was growing up. BLCI wraps their arms around these young people, letting them know they will not let them fail. The student stories of their challenges and accomplishments to make it to college are nothing short of remarkable. I know I am making a difference in the lives of children directly when I donate and give my time and talents to this organization.
BLCI: Is there a special memory over the years that stands out to you?
J.P: I have “grown up” with some of these students, having been involved for so long. I attended an unrelated nonprofit event with about 600 people a number of years ago. A young woman about 10 years old was circulating through the crowd with a handler to raise funds for BLCI (I was not aware of this fundraising effort as I was attending an event for another organization). This young woman came right up to me and said “I know you! You help us at BLCI” She was so proud to be able to recognize someone in the crowd, and I was so touched that she remembered me from my work at BLCI. I recently attended a BLCI graduation where she again came up to me as a graduate to say hello and to tell me she has always remembered my presence at BLCI.
BLCI: You turned your passion for advocating for underserved youth into a volunteer role that included serving as board chair. What is it about BLCI and its mission that drives you to go above and beyond?
J.P: The photo below says it all. During a number of years, HP provided a holiday party for the entire student body and families. It used to bring my holiday spirit alive! They brought in a Santa Claus, and every single child got a wrapped gift. They all opened them at once (almost 400 children) and the families received gifts also. One year, HP gave every family a laptop. Grandmas were crying, families were screaming, it was such a warm and wonderful atmosphere of appreciation and pride for these children who are determined to succeed.
BLCI: Your giving goes beyond volunteer support and advocacy. You are also a monthly donor and have designated BLCI in your estate plans. By blending your giving, you are making an impact at BLCI today, as well as helping to ensure financial security that will enable BLCI to continue to grow and invest in our community for years to come. What advice would you give others who may be interested in blending their giving in order to make a bigger, transformative impact?
J.P: As I said earlier, this is my “heart” organization. Part of my heritage exists here. I want BLCI to be able to touch as many students as possible for as long as possible because there are not enough organizations and people who care about this population and the challenges they face each day based on their backgrounds, economic status, and external measurements such as appearance, language challenges, residential locations, family challenges and changing political atmosphere. My advice to others: find an organization that matches your passions, your values, and your life-experiences. If you can relate, you will not be able to say no…
BLCI: What is your hope for BLCI’s future and how will your planned gift help make this possible? I expect BLCI to adapt and evolve as the “winds” change to address the needs of minority children, so they have the tools to thrive. BLCI is fulfilling needs of populations that need support, that need resources, and that need arms around them to say “you CAN do it”
If you haven’t done so already, please consider making a tax deductible year end gift to BLCI. 100% of donations will be matched and can help ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential through education.
Prefer to mail in your contribution? Please address check to Century Club of San Diego with a memo of BLCI.
“They [BLCI] have opened the doors for me to new opportunities and have helped my family in many ways like helping my brother and I with college applications.”
Dana
BLCI Senior
