Legacy Circle Archives - Penn-Mar

More Ways to Give, More Ways to Make a Difference

ggorham — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:29:36 +0000

Learn about three flexible ways to support Penn-Mar’s mission.

By Jennifer Hobbs
Chief Development and Marketing Officer

For Penn-Mar and many other nonprofits, year-end giving provides a significant share of the support we rely on throughout the year. It’s also a meaningful time to celebrate what your generosity makes possible and share about the challenges ahead.

While our current climate is difficult – intellectual and developmental disability services are flat-funded in Pennsylvania and experiencing cuts in Maryland – it’s also never been easier for supporters to donate in ways that are flexible, personalized, and designed to work best for both them and the causes they care about.

The bottom line: You can support the work you care about in a way that fits your budget and your plans for the future.

Here are three options worth considering: recurring gifts, donor-advised funds (DAFs), and legacy giving. Each offers different benefits, and each helps create meaningful opportunities for the people and families we support.

Recurring Gifts

Recurring gifts are one of my favorite ways to support nonprofits. Just like my Netflix subscription, my monthly donations happen automatically, so I can consistently support causes I care about in a way that fits my budget.

At Penn-Mar, you can schedule a monthly or quarterly gift online using a credit card, debit card, ACH bank transfer, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. Set an end date or let the gift continue, choose any amount you want, and adjust or stop it if life changes.

When I first became a monthly donor, I wondered whether my modest gifts would really add up. They do. Monthly donors often give for seven to eight years, and their total support can exceed one-time giving by 600–800%. For Penn-Mar, that steady support means more dependable revenue, better planning, and consistent services and opportunities for the people we support – even in uncertain times.

Donor-Advised Funds (DAF)

October 8th was National DAF Day. It was created to encourage awareness about Donor-Advised Funds. DAFs are one of the fastest-growing ways to give because they offer donors meaningful tax advantages.

A DAF can be established through a national provider, such as Vanguard Charitable, DAFgiving360, or Fidelity Charitable; or through a local community foundation. You contribute to the fund, generally reduce your taxable income, and then recommend grants to eligible nonprofits out of those funds. Because DAFs can be invested, they also grow over time and increase the impact of your giving.

You don’t need a large charitable budget to benefit from a DAF; they work well for many people who give regularly. About two-thirds of annual DAF grants are $1,000 or less, and many national providers have no minimum balance requirement. One more important DAF detail: contributions are irrevocable. Once money goes into a DAF, it must eventually go to nonprofits. But if charitable giving is already part of your long-term plans, a DAF can be a practical way to minimize taxes and maximize your impact.

At Penn-Mar, DAF grants provide support for high-quality and innovative programs, emerging needs, and new opportunities, none of which is possible via government funding alone.

Legacy Circle

Penn-Mar’s Legacy Circle is a way to invest in the organization’s future. I think of legacy giving as “funding the future” – helping the organizations I care about continue their work even when I’m no longer here to support them personally.

A legacy gift can also support a cause that matters to you without reducing the assets available to you and your family during your lifetime. For many of us, the largest gift we’ll ever make won’t come through an annual donation or event support, but through our estate plans. People who include Penn-Mar in a will, life insurance policy, or another arrangement become part of our Legacy Circle – a community committed to sustaining our mission.

Many donors never tell nonprofits that they have included them in their estate plans, and about 55% of Americans have no formal plans – leaving their wishes and loved ones unprotected! (Penn-Mar offers a free Make a Will tool to help with that). We don’t ask our Legacy Circle to commit to a specific gift amount or arrangement; we understand that life changes and plans do, too. Letting us know your intentions simply helps us more effectively plan for the future, express our gratitude, and inspire others through your example.

Your Support Makes Our Mission Possible

To everyone who supports Penn-Mar and other nonprofits doing vital work: thank you. Your generosity means that people with disabilities can access Assistive Technology for greater independence; secure meaningful, fairly compensated jobs; participate in their communities; and have skilled, compassionate Direct Support Professionals by their side each day.

There are many ways to support the people and causes you care about. If Penn-Mar is one of the organizations close to your heart, we’re here to help you explore the giving options that best reflect your values and goals. Thank you for being a critical part of our mission!

For more information or help making a gift to Penn-Mar, contact Jenn Hobbs, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, at jennhobbs@penn-mar.org or 443-491-9628.

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August is National Make-A-Will Month

ggorham — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:09:05 +0000

A reminder to plan for the people and causes that matter most.

August is National Make-A-Will Month, a time dedicated to encouraging individuals to create or update their will to make their wishes clear and think about the people and causes that matter most to them.

According to a 2025 survey from Caring.com, only 24% of Americans reported having a will, down from 33% in 2022.

Without a will, state law, rather than your personal wishes, generally determines how your estate is handled after you pass.

It is understandable that many people put off estate planning because it can be a difficult subject to think about, and knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming.

To make getting started a little easier, Penn-Mar has gathered these free tools and resources to help you plan for the future.

For those who choose to include Penn-Mar in their estate plans, the Legacy Circle is our way of recognizing and thanking them for that commitment. It also connects people who share a belief in Penn-Mar’s mission and its future.

I see firsthand how essential individual donations, bequests, and grants are to supplement the government funding that helps us meet the basic needs of the people we support. Our Penn-Mar Foundation exists to ensure we have the additional resources needed to carry out our mission — creating bold new possibilities to help them live courageously in pursuit of their best life.

My wife, Terri, and I chose to include a gift to Penn-Mar in our will so that our support will continue beyond our lifetimes. That decision also made us part of the Legacy Circle, a community we are proud to join. This gift is our way of celebrating the lasting impact of a mission that has become a guiding force in our lives.

These transformational gifts are called “legacy” for a reason: they are an extension of who we are and have life-changing effects on generations to come. Planned giving is all about creating support that endures. I often imagine how our gift to Penn-Mar will one day impact the life of someone not yet born.

You don’t need to know today exactly what your future gift might look like. If you’re considering including Penn-Mar in your plans, we’ve gathered resources to help you explore your options. And if you’ve already included Penn-Mar in your estate plans, we’d love to know so we can thank you and welcome you to the Legacy Circle.

Make-A-Will Month is an important reminder that creating or updating a will is one way we can care for the people we love and continue supporting the causes that have shaped our lives.

Whatever your plans may be, I hope this month gives you a reason to start the conversation.

For more information about The Legacy Circle, Contact Jenn Hobbs at jennhobbs@penn-mar.org.

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Tony Campisi’s Enduring Commitment to Penn-Mar

ggorham — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:36:00 +0000

A longtime board leader and supporter shares why Planned Giving is essential to sustaining Penn-Mar’s mission for generations to come.

Tony Campisi has spent much of his career helping people think about the future. As an insurance executive and trusted advisor, he has had countless conversations about planning ahead, protecting what matters most, and making thoughtful long-term decisions. That perspective is one reason he believes so strongly in Penn-Mar’s Legacy Circle.

Tony is Chairman Emeritus at Glatfelter Insurance Group and serves on both the Penn-Mar Human Services and Penn-Mar Foundation Boards. Learning about Penn-Mar’s mission and seeing its impact on the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) deeply impacted Tony. What began as a client relationship grew into a genuine passion for the organization, leading both Tony and Glatfelter to become longtime supporters.

“I have seen a lot of nonprofit organizations whose people are passionate about what they do. Penn-Mar stands out,” Tony said. “It is amazing to watch the culture in action and see how much the Penn-Mar team truly cares about the families and people they support. I believe the history of strong leadership at Penn-Mar is what built and sustains that kind of environment.”

Tony has spent years helping families think about the future through his work in insurance and risk management. Over time, those conversations also shaped how he thought about his own legacy and the kind of impact he wanted to leave behind.

For Tony, joining the Legacy Circle was a natural extension of his long connection to Penn-Mar and his belief in the importance of long-term support for people with IDD.

“When you see the impact Penn-Mar has on people and families, you want to make sure that support continues long into the future,” he said. “This is about helping create stability and making sure the organization is there for the next generation and beyond.”

That belief ultimately led Tony to include Penn-Mar in his estate plans and become part of the Penn-Mar Legacy Circle, a community of individuals and families helping ensure support endures for years to come.

“We all share the common good in one way or another and have to decide what’s important to us and worthy of our support,” Tony said. “The Penn-Mar mission pulls at my heart, and I feel it’s important to the common good to help people with disabilities and their families. If you are a compassionate person and understand what Penn-Mar does day-in-and-day-out, there’s a strong likelihood you will feel called to support its mission in some way.”

The Legacy Circle provides critical funding for Penn-Mar at a time when government resources are stretched to the limit. “We can’t wait until there is a sudden drop in government funding to look for additional resources,” Tony said.

According to Tony, including Penn-Mar in your will ensures you are leaving part of your life estate to an organization that becomes part of your personal legacy.

“You’re making a statement beyond life on this earth that you want to be part of an institution that is having a far-reaching impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Your impact will be forever because you are part of an endowment that will help ensure the sustainability of Penn-Mar Human Services. Planned giving is all about creating support that endures.”

The Legacy Circle is made up of supporters who have included Penn-Mar in their estate plans to ensure that the care, community, and opportunities people experience today will continue for generations. Want to learn more about the Legacy Circle? We’d love to connect. Contact Jenn Hobbs at jennhobbs@penn-mar.org.

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Thinking About What Comes Next

ggorham — Mon, 11 May 2026 19:57:05 +0000

When we look into the horizon of our future, most of us think about it in familiar ways.

We imagine what life might look like a few years from now. Maybe it’s a different pace, more time with family, or plans that finally have room to breathe.

There’s a sense of ease in that kind of thinking.

But for families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the future brings thoughts that are a bit different.

It’s not just about what’s ahead; it’s about who will be there day to day. Who understands their loved one. Who notices the small things. Who steps in when something doesn’t feel right.

It’s wondering what happens when you’re no longer the one holding all of that together.

It’s a quiet question, but it’s an important one.

Families like Chris Otto’s and Kathleen McMahon’s have spent time sitting with these questions, and their careful pondering led to a decision: to include Penn-Mar in their estate plans.

“Knowing Mandy has support gives us peace of mind. We no longer carry the fear of what might happen if we were suddenly unable to care for her. We know Penn-Mar will be there.”
— Chris Otto, Parent and Legacy Circle Member

“Planning for the future isn’t easy, but it matters. We wanted to make sure there would always be support in place, no matter what.”
— Kathleen McMahon, Parent and Legacy Circle Member

If support is going to be there in the future, it doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when families think ahead and make intentional decisions.

Chris and Kathleen are not alone. There is a growing group of families and supporters who have made the choice to include Penn-Mar in their estate planning. Together, they are helping ensure that the support people rely on today continues for years to come.

That community is what we now call the Legacy Circle.

The Penn-Mar Legacy Circle is a community made up of people who have chosen to include Penn-Mar in their will or estate plans. This commitment is one step toward creating long-term stability for Penn-Mar and the people we support.

The Legacy Circle’s logo intentionally illustrates this idea. At the center is a horizon with a path moving forward. There is direction. There is movement. There is something ahead.

Because that’s what this is about… creating support that endures.

Penn-Mar exists today because people believed this work mattered and chose to invest in it. The Legacy Circle carries that same idea forward.

It’s a way to make sure the support people count on doesn’t stop here.

Learn how to get involved:

Contact:

Kathy Rogers
Penn-Mar Foundation, Executive Director
kathyrogers@penn-mar.org
(443) 824-4628

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Support That Endures

ggorham — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:16:23 +0000

A Decision That Helped Us Worry Less About Tomorrow.

By Chris Otto
Penn-Mar Parent and Legacy Circle Supporter

Mandy Otto poses with her parents at one of her favorite places, Disney World!

It can be an emotional time for parents when their children grow up, spread their wings, and begin to live more independently. For parents of a child with a disability, that moment often carries extra weight. Along with pride and hope comes the added responsibility of navigating complex systems of support to ensure their child can live a meaningful adult life.

Our daughter Mandy was born with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects physical development, learning, and various health issues. People with Williams Syndrome are often friendly, outgoing, and deeply connected to music, all of which describe Mandy perfectly.

When Mandy was just 18 months old, we moved north of Baltimore to Hydes, Maryland. She lived with us until she was 40, but we knew long before that it would not always be the right long-term plan. We wanted Mandy to have a safe, supportive home where she could continue to grow in independence while being surrounded by people who truly cared about her.

That search led us to Penn-Mar 26 years ago where we met Greg Miller. From the very beginning, we felt a sense of trust. As my husband John and I toured the day program and residential homes, we noticed the care, cleanliness, and attention to detail. More importantly, we saw the respect between staff and the people they support. I remember turning to my husband and saying, “This is it. We don’t need to look any further.”

Mandy moved into her Penn-Mar home in January of 2019. Like any major transition, it came with challenges. The pandemic in 2020 made those early months especially difficult, but the patience and empathy shown by her staff made all the difference. They helped Mandy adjust, feel safe, and truly settle into her new environment.

Over the past two years, Mandy has dealt with some health challenges as well. On one occasion, she needed an ambulance to take her to the local ER. The dedication of her staff was just unbelievable. They constantly visited her in the hospital and created a new diet plan to aid in her recovery. The communication between the staff and our family during this time was amazing.

Today, Mandy has a full life. She has friends, participates in day program activities, works several days a week at the local YMCA, and has become more independent and patient.

Most importantly, knowing Mandy has support gives us peace of mind. We no longer carry the fear of what might happen if we were suddenly unable to care for her. We know Penn-Mar will be there. That confidence is what led our family to include Penn-Mar in our estate plans and become part of the Penn-Mar Legacy Circle.

We are ordinary people. I retired after a career as a nurse in radiation oncology, and my husband retired from the National Cash Register Corporation. Like many families, our lives have revolved around our child. Including Penn-Mar in our plans felt like a natural extension of that care. It is a way to help ensure that the organization that supports Mandy today will be there for her and for others in the future.

The Legacy Circle is a community of people who have chosen to include Penn-Mar in their estate plans, often by naming the organization in their will. It is not about recognition or status. It is about continuity. It brings together families and supporters who share a commitment to making sure Penn-Mar endures to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for generations to come.

For our family, this decision was about hope. Hope that Mandy will always have a community that knows her, supports her, and values her life. And hope that Penn-Mar will continue to be a place where people with disabilities can live courageously.

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