Gift Annuity Benefits Community and Donor
Rita Shimmin
Rita Shimmin, a retired school teacher, grew up in Hershey and taught school in Elsie for three years before moving to Ogallala, where she taught high school business classes for 35 years. Rita worked with NCF’s Jim Gustafson to establish a charitable gift annuity which will benefit the Keith County Community Foundation Fund in the future.
“To me it is the perfect way to give back to my community and to enjoy the benefits of a guaranteed income. Especially with the interest rates the way they are now. Five percent interest is a really good rate, plus I got a tax deduction by making the gift,” Rita said.
Rita joined the Keith County Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee at the urging of her friends, Jack and Beverly Pollock of Ogallala and Pete Peterson of Brule. She has been a committee member for four years and is very proud of all that the Fund has accomplished. Within just seven years, the Fund has reinvested $137,000 in 82 charitable projects and programs in the county as of the spring of 2011. “We need to do more,” Rita said. “Each year we receive many more requests than we are able to fund. I would like to see more funding for our schools.”
“Jim Gustafson made it so very easy. I worked directly with Jim and he handled all the paper work. I talked to my financial advisors and they both agreed that a charitable gift annuity provided the greatest benefits.”
Rita and her late husband, Dennis, did not have children. With no dependents, her assets in life insurance and retirement plans make charitable giving an attractive and rewarding option. She can benefit her favorite causes and also enjoy a number of tax advantages.
“I would certainly recommend creating a charitable gift annuity as a way of giving back,” Rita said. “It benefits your community. It benefits you. And it just feels good to be able to help.”
