Diane Evans counts her many blessings

Diane's relationship with AFSC began in 1952, when she met a group of volunteers on an ocean liner en route to England. "It was a like a floating hotel for young people," she recalls. She was participating in an Experiment for International Living, and the volunteers were on their way to help rebuild communities still devastated by the destruction of World War II. Their dedication to the worthy effort impressed her.

Later, in the 1980s, during the height of conflicts in Central America, Diane was increasingly drawn to pacifism and the realization that war solved nothing. Her relationship to AFSC and Quakers deepened when her son, a Muslim, married a Quaker under the care of Albuquerque Meeting. The Meeting and the Muslim community rallied around Diane and her family after her son's untimely death.

Diane says, "I'm not a Friend, but I deeply admire their honesty, their values, and their commitment to justice."

As she looked toward retirement, Diane wanted to arrange for steady income while planning a gift that would support AFSC's work beyond her lifetime. She chose a charitable remainder trust, funded with real estate she owns in Florida. Once the property sells, she will receive income, tax benefits, and the satisfaction of supporting the future of AFSC's worldwide programs. From her retirement home in California, where she spends much of her time painting, sometimes in her back garden, she is grateful for many things, including AFSC's planned giving program.

To learn more about charitable remainder trusts, contact our gift planning staff.