Giving to Skyland Trail Was a Natural Decision

The McCarty’s son, David, graduated from Skyland Trail in 2009. Since then, they have continued to stay connected as integral members of the Skyland Trail community, and they can frequently be seen on campus speaking with new client families at Family Orientation or attending various educational events. Read more about why they decided to include Skyland Trail in their estate plans and leave a legacy for future generations of clients and their families.

“It was a natural decision to include Skyland Trail in our estate plans, as we have seen first-hand the quality of care provided by the organization’s compassionate team of psychiatrists and primary counselors. Our son, David, was treated at Skyland Trail almost ten years ago, and today he continues to thrive.

After David was diagnosed, we educated ourselves about various financial planning tools so that we could feel confident that David’s future would be secure well beyond our lifetimes. Once those plans were in place, it was easy to identify ways in which we could provide for our families, as well as the charities that we love.

When we think about Skyland Trail, we are reminded of all of the many families who welcomed us at our first STEP meeting, as they offered their support, experience, and insight. Over the years, these relationships have endured, and it has been a wonderful experience to give back to the families whose loved ones are just beginning their journey toward recovery. We feel so inspired by the success that our son continues to find since graduating from Skyland Trail, and we find it personally gratifying to be able to share our story of hope with others.

We chose to make Skyland Trail a beneficiary of our life insurance policy because it provides a simple way to update beneficiaries with the policy holder. It also gives us the flexibility to designate our beneficiaries for a percentage of the balance of the policy. That way we can ensure that both our family and Skyland Trail will benefit from our legacy.

The initial investments from the founders of Skyland Trail ensured that this organization was here to serve the needs of our son, and we hope our planned gift will do the same for the families and clients that will follow.”

About the McCartys

The McCartys both live in the Atlanta area. Don is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitionerwith expertise in the complexities of disability benefits, Special Needs Trust issues and administration, powers of attorney, guardianships, tax planning, and more. Maryland directs the office of information technology at a local health care group.