What Legacy Do You Hope to Leave Behind?

Maybe it’s the way you showed up for your family. The opportunities you created for your children and grandchildren. The kindness you shared with neighbors. The belief that every person deserves the chance to thrive.

Those are the things that become our true legacy.

August is National Make-A-Will Month, an opportunity to take one simple step that protects the people you love while ensuring the values you’ve spent a lifetime living continue to make a difference.

That’s why we’ve partnered with FreeWill, a secure online service that allows you to create your legally valid will in about 20 minutes—completely free of chPreview Changes (opens in a new tab)arge. Whether you’re creating your first will or updating an existing one, it’s an easy way to bring peace of mind to your family and confidence about the future.

For many, that future also includes investing in the place that helped shape their lives—a community they hope will be just as strong for the next generation.

Imagine a child walking into school with a backpack full of supplies because someone believed education opens doors. A family finding stability after an unexpected crisis. A neighbor discovering hope through a local program made possible by people who chose to invest in tomorrow.

Long after we’re gone, those moments can continue.

A gift in your will is more than a financial contribution. It is a statement that says, “I believe in this community. I believe in its people. I believe the work should continue.”

Through our endowment, your generosity becomes a permanent investment in our region. It helps create opportunities for children, strengthens families, responds to emerging needs, and supports community partnerships for generations to come—even as those needs evolve over time.

The size of the gift isn’t what defines a legacy. It’s the decision to leave the community stronger than you found it.

If you’ve ever volunteered, supported a campaign, advocated for a neighbor, or believed that together we can accomplish more than any one of us can alone, you’ve already been building your legacy. A will is simply one more way to ensure that spirit lives on.

If you choose to include United Way in your plans, we would be honored to carry your generosity forward for future generations.