Shirley Scafetta’s Charitable Gift Annuity Honors Late Mother While Supporting Mount Vernon’s Future

Shirley Scafetta’s late mother, Lorraine, raised her children to appreciate American history and the legacy of the country’s first president, which is why Shirley has established a charitable gift annuity (CGA) in her mother’s name to support George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

“My mother was a great little patriot,” says Shirley, speaking from her home near Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. “This is a worthy cause and a wonderful, fitting tribute to my mother.”

Growing up, Shirley’s family vacations almost always included stops at historic landmarks. Today Shirley retains a deep appreciation for the Constitution and the strife and struggles required to bring the United States into being.

“George Washington has to be the most stunning figure in our whole history,” Shirley says. “He was humble. He didn’t try to take the country down a wrong path, which he could have easily done. He respected the freedom he and others fought for.”

Attending George Washington’s birthday celebration at Mount Vernon confirmed Shirley’s confidence that her CGA and her annual gifts are supporting an important and worthy cause. From the birthday gala to tea with Martha Washington, Shirley found rich appreciation for what Mount Vernon means to America.

“I know my mother was with me and was very, very proud,” she says. “I wish she could have been there in person, but she was there in spirit for sure.”

For Shirley, a CGA was a perfect way to help preserve George Washington’s legacy while returning tax advantages for her. She reinvests the annuity payments, she says, allowing the gift to grow each year. She sees planned gifts to George Washington’s Mount Vernon as a great investment for herself and others.

“I would say that they use the contributions very wisely,” Shirley says. “The bottom line is that this is a well-managed, important, and worthy cause, preserving the history and significance of George and Martha Washington’s legacy and Mount Vernon.”