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Life continues after loved ones pass, and eventually, it races on without us too. Have you told your family about your wishes for your estate after you are gone? Do they know you support the Ministry of Caring? Make a planned gift to ensure your wishes are known.
Your generosity will make all the difference in our success. Help us to continue providing as we did in 2016:
Your special commitment to the poor through your charitable estate gift benefits the Ministry, and it can also help your financial and tax situation.
A lover of nature, animals, and travel, Michelle Mercadante surprised some of her family and friends when she left a bequest to the Ministry of Caring.
Our donors recognize the value and see the results of the diverse services the Ministry of Caring provides to those in need. Many wish to continue a legacy of support for the Ministry even after they have passed away. Michelle Mercadante was one such generous benefactor. Michelle could have left her estate to a number of worthy causes; leaving a legacy to the Ministry revealed Michelle’s quiet, yet strong desire to help the poor and homeless.
Michelle often attended Mass with her stepmother Carolyn Mercadante at the Capuchin Friary located on Prior Road in Wilmington. Brother Ronald Giannone, a Capuchin Friar and Executive Director of the Ministry of Caring, often celebrated Mass at the Friary. Michelle learned about and came to admire Brother Ronald’s work among the poor and began to designate her United Way contributions to the Ministry of Caring.
After 41 years in the Customer Service Department at Exelon, Michelle prepared to retire but a short series of catastrophic illnesses took her life before she reached her goal. Michelle passed away on October 2, 2014. Now, almost three years after Michelle’s death, we see the lasting impact of Michelle’s planning. Through Michelle’s gift, the people we serve have real hope for a brighter future because Michelle cared and took action to ensure that her legacy lived on at the Ministry of Caring. Although Michelle is not able to receive our thanks today, we honor her memory and celebrate her willingness to help others in our community.
If you have thought about designating a part of your estate to the Ministry of Caring, we would love to know. If you have already completed an estate plan that includes the Ministry, we would love to know that too. Please click here to fill out our survey and then email the completed form to Priscilla Rakestraw at prakestraw@ministryofcaring.org. We will work with you to offer any additional information or ideas about what might be helpful for your family and the Ministry.
How to pick an adviser
Do-it-yourself estate planning