Making the Most of Generosity: Why Pat & Celia Gave via an IRA

Pat Beckler and her daughter Celia are known for doing their research. 

It’s where they started when John, Pat’s husband and Celia’s dad, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They did the same when Celia’s husband, Eddie, was later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). And when Pat decided she wanted to actively support science into PD, you can guess what quality she looked for.  

“I chose to support The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) because of their research — and their name,” Pat shared. 

“We’ve been Michael J. Fox fans since the ‘80s, from his days on Family Ties,” Celia explained. 

As for how to donate, Pat and Celia did what they do best and evaluated all of Pat’s options. They determined the best approach was giving through her individual retirement account (IRA).  

“If you’re considering a significant gift, it’s advisable to look for the tax advantages. That’s what allows you to have more to utilize in your gift,” Pat said. 

Celia went on to explain why IRA giving appealed to them: If you’re 70½ or older and give through your IRA, you don’t pay income tax on your gift. That means every dollar goes directly to MJFF. It maximizes research funding and translates into more progress toward a cure. 

“It’s also an easy thing to do,” Celia said.  

“Easy,” especially in the midst of more difficult decisions, is no small benefit. Celia and her husband know this firsthand from Eddie’s diagnosis. And while Celia says they “never dreamed” of walking a PD journey, they’re grateful that there’s a simple yet effective way for people to donate to research. 

“PD adds a new, unexpected challenge to life. But you can learn to live with PD and live well,” Celia shared. “We hope that through mom’s IRA giving, even more funds will be available to continue studies that will improve lives and find a cure.” 

Do your own research. Visit our IRA giving page to learn more about tax-free donations.