For the late Cherie Loustaunau making a will was of upmost importance. As a diligent, disciplined, and compassionate woman, Cherie needed to make sure everyone and everything she loved in life was taken care of after she was gone. For example, Cherie had a strong interest in young people so she set up educational investment funds for her eight great nephews and nieces. As a dedicated philanthropist, Cherie also wanted to make sure she supported the organizations that she loved throughout her life. In her will, she left gifts to several organizations including the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.

For many, like Cherie, a will is a final statement to what was important to them in their lives, a final opportunity to make sure their wishes are realized and that they continue to champion the organizations they cared about most in their lifetimes. Yet, according to a Caring.com survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans do not have a will.

Without a will, important decisions such as who receives assets and how property will be divided up will be decided by the state of Maryland. Care for minor children and pets will be left up to a court. Creating a will can not only save loved ones time, stress, and money; but also, can specify how to support favorite causes, as Cherie did.

Like Cherie, her husband Michael Kurtz, believes it’s important to have an estate plan, and in it, legacy intentions. That’s why, as part of his estate plan, Michael has left directions to establish the Cherie Loustaunau Memorial Fund with CFAAC, an endowed fund benefitting CFAAC’s giving circle—Anne Arundel Women's Giving Together (AAWGT) in her honor.

“I would say that most of us do not think about our legacies and if we do, we think about what we are giving to our children and our grandchildren; often not beyond,” he said. “Cherie believed there is a wider community that needs nurturing and support. And so, my feeling is that if we don’t leave something to the community that we care about, then society as a whole and the society in which our children and grandchildren live in becomes poorer. 

“I like legacy giving,” added Michael, who also made arrangements with CFAAC in 2019 to establish the Dr. Michael J. Kurtz Legacy Fund at the time of his passing. “It’s not so pressured. And an endowed fund will keep supporting the organization or its successors for a long, long, long time.”

You, too, can partner with CFAAC on legacy gift planning. We will work you and with your professional advisors to ensure that your legacy supports the causes you care about most. Just contact our Director of Planned Giving Rosemary Calderalo, Ph.D. at 410.280.1102, ext. 103. or rosemary@cfaac.org.