As life at Fleet Landing evolved, it became increasingly clear that our charitable gifts through the Endowment Fund could identify and support special projects important to us. Knowing that our friends and neighbors could benefit made supporting these projects truly special.

In our view, many charities distribute disappointingly low percentages of their actual income to their recipients. Our observation of Fleet Landing's Johnson Hall, Derfer Heathcare Pavilion and Nancy House and other donations to projects demonstrates just the opposite. We felt confident that we would see tangible results from our gift being used efficiently for the total benefit of Fleet Landing residents.

Fleet Landing is a special place. We all know that. But what we often take for granted is how much of that "specialness" comes from the generosity of our fellow residents. We chose to contribute to Fleet Landing so we could be a bit of that legacy. It is akin to contributing to yourself. All of our combined gifts allow Fleet Landing to offer outstanding facilities and amenities that we can enjoy today - while also ensuring the future of Fleet Landing's special reputation.

I feel so fortunate to live at Fleet Landing. In all aspects, it has proven to be a wonderful place to spend my retirement years. The healthcare component played a major role in my decision to move to a continuing care retirement community. I wanted to spare my family the burden of caring for me when medical issues arose. Indeed, the excellent care I received in skilled nursing after knee replacements-and well before fundraising for what is now The Nancy House and the Derfer Health Care Pavilion began-showed me the value of having acted on that concern. Family members did not need to disrupt their lives to care for me. When I learned of the plans for upgrading Fleet Landing's healthcare facilities, I knew I wanted to be a part of that project. The option for Charitable Gift Annuities made it possible for me to become a member of the Spinnaker Society and participate in the effort to improve what was already in place.

Jack and I decided to support Fleet Landing's charitable gift initiative because we wanted to continue to live in a premier, elite CCRC. We have always believed in supporting those things in which we believe. I personally come from a line of long-lived women, so I fully expect to be here for the 50th anniversary of Fleet Landing. I want it to continue to be a special community. I think that our contributions can help to make that true.

We have discovered over the years that we are more satisfied and fulfilled when we are actively involved in the life of the communities and organizations of which we are a part - whether it's church groups, civic groups, charitable organizations, schools we attended, or now, Fleet Landing, the community in which we live. For us, active involvement has meant time, talent and treasure, the latter in the form of financial support. Monthly fees pay for the essential services we enjoy as residents of Fleet Landing, but the margin of excellence at virtually any not-for-profit organization is determined by the support that the organization receives in the form of charitable gifts. We want Fleet Landing to continue to have that margin of excellence and we want to pass on to future Residents of Fleet Landing an even better community than was here for us when we came. That's why we support Fleet Landing through gifts to the Charitable Gift Planning Office.