A lot of people leave charitable contributions in their wills or trusts that most people never hear about. And most of the time those distributions go to organizations to distribute and those that benefit from them aren't really sure who the donor ever was.
However, that is not the case for a Lexington, KY. man who fulfilled his late brother's last wish to provide a $500 tip to a server. When 30 year old Aaron Collins passed away unexpectedly last month, his family was surprised to discover that he had written out a will that was found on his computer. And the last thing in his will said to "leave an awesome tip" of $500!
His brother, Seth, was moved by the request and set about fulfilling it. First he had to raise the funds and set up a website to collect donations. When enough had been received he visited a local restaurant. After finishing his meal, he left the tip to the waitress, Chelsea Powell, and explained why it was such a large amount. When the story went viral more donations were received on the website to the tune of $47,000. Now Collins has enough money to almost make big tips once a week for the next two years.
This is a perfect example of turning a tragedy into an inspiration through the act of charitable giving after the death of a loved one.
For more information on setting up charitable trusts or leaving bequests to charity in your will, please consult with a professional attorney at The Law Offices of David A. Shapiro.
*This blog entry was not written by an Attorney and should not be constituted as professional legal advice.