Published on February 7, 2023 | At the PKD Foundation, the work we do is only made possible thanks to our generous supporters. Supporters like Catherine Blakley. As a PKDF donor, she’s helping fund research, education, and advocacy efforts—improving the lives of everyone impacted by PKD. Like many, the reason Catherine chose to give back is very personal, she’s a PKD patient herself. Today, she’s sharing why she supports the PKD Foundation.
What brought you to the PKD Foundation?
Catherine: The doctor who gave me the diagnosis handed me a slip of paper with the PKD Foundation’s website on it. While he was a urologist, he was familiar with PKD because his young daughter had ARPKD.
Why did you decide to become a donor to the Foundation?
Catherine: The PKD Foundation was basically my savior as far as education about PKD. I’d never heard of the disease before my diagnosis and pkdcure.org became my library of information. From the website, I learned there was a PKD community near me. I began attending monthly meetings which allowed me to meet and visit with others who were going through, or who had already gone through, what I was.
Can you tell me a little bit about why you chose to do a planned gift?
Catherine: I previously included the PKD Foundation in my trust distributions through the PKD Legacy Society. In addition, I’ve made various donations through the years, although nothing in a regular, planned way. I had hoped to increase my annual donations in 2023 by starting to make monthly donations. Krista Hurd helped me set up the planned gift through the Foundation.
Why do you think it’s important to support the Foundation?
Catherine: Because I want a world without PKD. Over the years, I’ve watched the Foundation grow to become an incredible resource of information for patients, caregivers, medical providers, researchers, and others. Their dedication to research, from the first grant of $25,000 in 1984 to what they fund today, gives us all hope.
A big thank you to Catherine for sharing why she chooses to support the PKD Foundation. Supporters like Catherine make our work at the PKDF possible.
How you can support the PKD Foundation and further our mission, too
If you’re 70½ or older, would you like to see how you can lower your income and taxes and make a critical gift to support the PKDF from your Required Minimum IRA Distribution? An IRA charitable rollover could be your answer.
So, what are the benefits?
- Avoiding taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to the PKD Foundation
- Possibly satisfying your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year
- Reducing your taxable income, even if you don’t itemize deductions
- Making a gift that isn’t subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts
- Helping further the work and mission of the PKD Foundation
Making gifts through your IRA isn’t the only way to give back. We’re excited to share the launch of new planned giving tools that make leaving your PKD Foundation legacy easy. No matter what your goals are—financial, tax, or estate planning—we’re here to help you tailor your charitable gift with the plan that’s right for you. Explore new gift models today that can provide tax benefits and help you generate income, all while providing resources to improve PKD research, care, and more!
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