From the Desk of Linda Civitello-Joy, CEO Breathe California, Golden Gate Public Health Partnership

Ready to Exhale
My personal mission to keep Breathe California strong

So how did I do on my "No Car Diet" last summer? Fabulous! I completed the month without using my car, borrowing a Zipcar only once for an out-of-town trip to Sacramento. I am using public transportation more then before, and air quality is not the only benefit! Between healthy eating, walking to bus and BART and regular gym session, I have lost a total of 35 pounds since the beginning of July! I have added years to my life, and my renewed energy got me thinking about the future.

As we said farewell to Breathe California's centennial year at the end of 2008, I began to research ways to personally to mark this momentous occasion, and plan for the next hundred years.

I am a single parent with two children in college. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, any funds from my life insurance policy and my estate would be used by my kids to pay off their student loans and to help them settle into their lives. Nothing would be left over for Breathe California! After dedicating over 20 years of my life to our organization – first as a volunteer, and then as the CEO – that would not work for me, or for Breathe California.

Then it came to me. For years, I have been giving to the organization through a personal payroll deduction. I recently learned, however, that if I purchase a life insurance policy for Breathe California, my monthly premiums on that policy are tax deductable – just like a cash contribution.

So I took the plunge. I increased my monthly giving a bit, but a portion of it now goes towards paying this insurance policy. When my time comes to leave this earth, Breathe California will have a legacy gift from me: the organization itself owns the policy.

When I retire, or if, for any reason, I cannot afford to make the premium payments, Breathe California will be able to either continue to pay them, or (if the policy has not accumulated enough to be sustaining without monthly payments) may cash it in.

By committing funds to this policy, I will be doing more to help the organization by providing a six-figure gift in the future. If you are interested in making a legacy gift to secure our second century, please call me. I would be happy to discuss creative options with you.

But, given my healthy lifestyle choices, Breathe California may have to wait a long time before cashing in on my life insurance!