Meet Our Donors
We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.
Bernie Mollema - An extraordinary blessing
Always prolife, but particularly motivated by the campaign to stop public funding of abortions in the 1988 Proposal A campaign, Bernie has engaged the prolife mission with the sort of steadfast resolve of a marathon runner.
More than a decade ago, Bernie organized a fund rasing breakfast for Right to Life of Michigan in its efforts to win Proposal A. As special event planning goes, several hurdles needed to be cleared. First, a notable keynote speaker was needed. Bernie ambitiously sought and booked the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Next, he needed a place for breakfast–and soon. This hurdle, too, was cleared. And so it was with each challenge, as Bernie helped fill the audience with Western Michigan business leaders, he ultimately hosted an energy filled and very successful benefit breakfast. Right to Life of Michigan went on to win Proposal A, and Bernie Mollema was on his way to many years of volunteer service with Right to Life of Michigan.
As a business leader himself (the third generation retired CEO of Mollema and Sons, a regional horticultural supply company), Bernie has been able to inspire the support of his peers in the cause of Life. His strong beliefs combined with the credibility of being a business executive have been a powerful combination in inviting others to offer their time, talent, and treasure.
"I've always believed that if we educate the people, they will understand the true tragedy of abortion," says Mollema. "Education is the key, reaching people and touching their minds and hearts. Unfortunately, this does not come free."
This core belief has kept Bernie motivated in his efforts to support the annual benefit dinner hosted by Grand Rapids Right to Life. Through this important "not to be missed" community event, Bernie helps round up table hosts, and he raises significant funds in support of the annual media impact campaign sponsored by the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Fund.
"By using major media we are able to reach people with our message," relates Bernie. "These are people who need to hear the prolife message, and who will not hear it in any other way unless we bring it to them on the television sets in their living rooms."
But Bernie knows that changing a culture takes a long time. Even after we restore legal protection for unborn girls and boys we will need to continue in our efforts to educate our society about the value of human life and the deception of abortion. This conviction led Bernie to enthusiastically agree to serve as a charter member on the board of trustees for the Right to Life of Michigan Educational Endowment Fund.
"We need to do all that we can today to touch hearts and save lives, but we also need to plan for tomorrow to build a foundation for our successors," Mollema states. "The Endowment Fund goes hand in hand with planned gift donations, to build for the future."
As part of Bernie's legacy, he has generously named the RLM Educational Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) which he established. The CRT satisfied several of Bernie's goals: to provide for important charities; to establish a steady income stream for his lifetime; and to avoid unnecessary estate taxes, capital gains taxes and income taxes.
"When I understood all of the benefits, it only made sense," says Mollema. "If I could redirect money which would pay taxes, and give more to save lives, it seemed the obvious thing to do. The Lord has blessed me greatly, and this is one way of giving something back."
Bernie Mollema has been a great blessing to Right to Life of Michigan in his service and in his giving. He knows the race we run is a marathon which requires tremendous stamina. But with the stakes so high, he plans to help us not only finish the race, but to win it.
Donna O’Hara - Discerning God's Will
Donna O'Hara is 36 years old. She is an engineer at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. Her father, Patrick O'Hara, who retired from Ford after 30 years of service, was so proud of her the day she got the job. Donna remembers it well. She also remembers the time her father spent in the hospital during the last days of his life in September 2003. Those days were meaningful and reflective. It was a time that brought the family together.
After her father's death, Donna remembers sitting in the bleachers at a local high school football game. Her older sister, Rita, looked back at her and said, "Hey, did you do your will yet?" With that one question she was following up on an informational booklet she had given Donna over 12 months earlier. The publication encouraged young adults to complete their will as a matter of good planning.
In October 2003, Donna traveled to Rome for the 25th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's Pontificate and the Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She promised her sister that before she left for Italy, she would complete and sign her will. With the help of a local prolife attorney, the will took only a couple of days to complete. The process was easier than she thought.
As the paperwork was being drawn up, Donna needed to decide how she would want her assets distributed one day. A single woman with 11 nieces and nephews who are all well taken care of financially by their parents, Donna decided the best thing to do would be to give it to charity. But before she gave it to charity she gave it back to God by asking him to direct her – and He did. While driving her car one afternoon, and thinking about a multitude of things other than her will, she had her answer, she clearly understood that she was to leave her estate to Right to Life of Michigan.
"I always knew I should complete my will," Donna confessed, "but I didn't want to think about death. I realize this sounds crazy, but in the back of my mind I thought that if I completed my will I could die. Of course I knew I would someday, but if my will was ready to go, then so was I. Isn't that silly?"
Donna went on to say, "I want to encourage my friends to stop spending time thinking about doing their will, they just need to do it. My will was a lot easier than I ever thought. And as in their lives, they need to continue to support the charities they've supported all along by writing them into their will. What people don't realize is that you have to do all this while you're living, and if you do, it will make everything easier on your family. You get a chance to tell them your wishes when you leave a will; they don't have to guess or fight with other family members over what they think you might have wanted."
On the way to the airport to depart for Rome, Donna felt a peace come over her knowing that she had acted responsibly and that her estate was all in order. Donna's time in Rome was nothing short of spectacular.
James and Dolores Harrington - Faithful Servants of Life
Right to Life of Michigan wishes to acknowledge the bequest gift of James and Dolores Harrington. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington's name will be included as Heritage Circle Charter Members. We wish to express our thanks for their very generous gift in thanksgiving for life, and the life they shared together.
Below are portions of an April 15, 2002 letter written by Mary Isobel Harrington Leibherr, the younger sister of James. We are thankful to Mrs. Leibherr for providing additional insight into the passion Mr. and Mrs. Harrington shared for life. We are most appreciative of their gift through the Harrington Trust.
When Dolores Pearson and James Harrington were married in 1936, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Toledo, OH, a great gathering of relatives and friends rejoiced.
Both Dolores and Jim had a strong feeling of family togetherness. Jim, the fourth of five children, was proud and loving of his parents, two sisters and two brothers. Dolores, the only surviving baby of her parents, felt very close to her parents and adopted younger brother, who took the place of several unsuccessful pregnancies of Dolores' mother.
The desires of this handsome couple were well known to the wedding guests ... "Our first boy will be called ‘Michael' (after Jim's beloved father), and the second, ‘Patrick" (in honor of the Irish heritage cherished by the bride and groom).
As years completed without "Michael" ,"Patrick", and the intended family of the Harrington's, Jim and Dolores thoroughly enjoyed the children of their relatives, friends and neighbors. Feeling honored to be godparents of many children, Jim and Dolores were special guests at numerous baptisms, birthday parties, and graduations, as well as holiday celebrations and family gatherings. Their presence and presents gave mutual enjoyment to all.
Their long married life was not marred by fate. The love they had hoped to extend to their own children was shown by their interest, concern and love for each other and for others.
In thanksgiving for their happy life, and the "Right to Life" of each of God's creation, they made this bequest to help promote a better life of cooperation with the plan of God.
Bernice Flora - Remembering Bernice Flora and her special gift to Right to Life of Michigan
Bedridden the last five years of her life, Bernice Flora was dedicated to the prolife movement even when she could not physically be involved. A faithful servant of prolife issues all her life, she unselfishly chose to be a witness to truth in her final days living what she believed.
Her younger brother, Carroll Helder of Grand Rapids said, "Bernice was not one who needed or wanted help. She needed and wanted to help others." And so it happened with her gift to Right to Life of Michigan through her trust her generosity will do much to protect and defend innocent human life.
The second oldest of 12 children, Bernice Helder married Marion (Red) Flora and lived much of their married life in Kalamazoo. Bernice worked 49 years as an accountant with Associated Truck Line. She and her husband had one adopted son, Rolly, who died in 1986; Red in 1999.
Carroll remembers that when Bernice decided it was time to find an attorney and complete her estate plans, she made provisions to leave a portion of the trust to her grandchildren and the remainder to charity. She believed passionately that family was important. She also believed that providing for the charities she supported in her lifetime was equally important. "She knew that by giving to charity, she'd be helping others," Carroll recalled.
By naming Right to Life of Michigan in her trust, we wish to acknowledge that Bernice Flora has given us the gift of self in a very special way. She has left a legacy gift that will not soon be forgotten. She has provided crucial financial means to help continue our work today and into the future. She understood our mission, knew we needed her help and responded. We are very grateful and pleased to add Bernice Flora's name to the charter membership roster of the Right to Life of Michigan Heritage Circle.
