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Mary Powell Leaves a Legacy for Future Bellarmine Students

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Mary Powell

Mary Powell was a friend of Bellarmine College Preparatory for 27 years prior to her passing in 2011 at the age of 90, and she will continue to help Bellarmine students far into the future, as a result of her estate plan.

Mary sought professional advice in 2002 to alleviate concerns of how she would provide for her daughter, Valerie, after she was gone. As a result, she established a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) with the sale proceeds of her home when she moved to a retirement center. Mary then began receiving a quarterly income distribution from the CRT, which now passes to her daughter for the remainder of her daughter's life. Because the home was transferred to a charitable trust, significant capital gains taxes on the sale were completely eliminated, and a charitable income tax deduction was used to offset other income. Mary's living trust and will left the remainder of her estate to the charitable remainder trust as an addition that now generates even more income for her daughter. When her daughter passes on, Bellarmine College Preparatory will be the charitable beneficiary of any remainder. Mary's will and CRT direct the remainder to be used to establish the Herbert L. and Mary Ellen Powell Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund. Earnings from the fund are to be used in perpetuity for tuition assistance for the families of students who have a verifiable need.

How You Can Help

If you would like more information on how you, too, can care for yourself and your loved ones, and leave a legacy for Bellarmine, please contact Bill Colucci, Esq. '82, at (408) 537-9279 or send an email to bcolucci@bcp.org.