Donor Stories

Donor Stories: Jack Arndt

In 2002, Jack Arndt was about to become part of something that would change the lives of others and forever change him.

As the senior vice president of marketing for the Bon Marche (now Macy’s), he and his team implemented at the northwest regional level “Thanks for Sharing” a program which gave customers the opportunity to receive a rebate on their purchases while also making a donation to Make-A-Wish during the holiday season. This program has been a huge success and since that time has grown into a national partnership with Macy’s.

And, that was just the beginning. Five years later, Arndt joined the Board of Trustees, is now serving as the Chair and is also a planned giving donor.

“I have listened to many wish children upon being granted their wish, it’s just an unbelievable emotional experience …knowing that every dollar stays in our community to grant wishes for our local children which could be your neighbor, family member or social connection,” said Arndt.

Currently, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington grants about 300 wishes annually; however, there are 500 children who are eligible to receive a wish each year. “We are currently falling 200 short,” said Arndt. “We need support to grant more wishes. Planned giving is a way that my wife and I have found to give dollars both for the immediate need and also for the future.”

You can leave a living legacy and ensure that wishes continue to be fulfilled in the future by making a planned gift. These gifts typically come from assets rather than income, and can be deferred. Some gifts can even provide you with income while also providing a future gift to Make-A-Wish. A few types of planned gifts include bequests, charitable gift annuities and life insurance.

It’s easy to make our chapter a first or second beneficiary of your IRA. You can even bequeath you frequent flier airline miles! Our chapter is licensed to offer charitable gift annuities – a wonderful way to make a gift and provide income to you at attractive rates – and the national office recently announced a new life insurance program that requires no medical exam.

If you let us know you have included our chapter in your future gift plans, we will be delighted to welcome you to our Legacy of Wishes giving club. Legacy of Wishes members receive a limited edition Wish Kid’s book with quotes and photos, and invitations to events such as our holiday event at the Four Seasons Seattle and lunch updates with our President and CEO. For more information, please contact Janet (Jan) Aldrich Jacobs, CFRE, CAP®, Vice President of Mission Advancement, at 206.623.5314 or jan@nwwishes.org