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RSNA Research and Education Foundation Expands Its Visionaries Program¹

¹ From the MRI Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, 403 E Columbia St, Long Beach, CA 90806. Address reprint requests to the author.

Index terms: Radiological Society of North America • Radiology and radiologists

The RSNA Research and Education Foundation offers the widest variety of radiological research grants of any foundation in the world. Since 1986, the Foundation has provided over $10 million in grants to more than 320 physicians and scientists embarking on research careers in the radiological sciences. The research conducted by these young investigators is the basis of our future practice. Their work would not be possible without support from individual contributors and companies who believe in their potential. Over $10 million has come from individual and corporate donations. Among these generous contributors have been the leaders of the RSNA.

In 1996, these leaders worked with the RSNA Research and Education Foundation to establish the Pathfinder Visionaries Program. They made the decision to "give something back" to their profession and secure the future of radiology—as well as their own future—by giving to the RSNA Research and Education Foundation. Over $2,400,000 has been given to date in the form of simple bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gifts of stock, and cash. These gifts have been acknowledged in the 2000 RSNA Research and Education Foundation Annual Report, the monthly RSNA News, and at the Research and Education Pavilion display at the Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting.

View larger version (44K): [in this window] [in a new window] [Download PPT slide]   Figure 1.

The Foundation will begin this effort with the mailing of a comprehensive brochure to the RSNA membership that will offer an explanation of the ways in which members can reduce estate taxes and give examples of different estate planning techniques. In addition, a series of seminars is planned for the RSNA Annual Meeting and Scientific Assembly that will further inform the membership of the benefits of careful estate planning.

Estate planning provides a wide variety of benefits. It offers individuals the power to personally direct the distribution of assets, provide security for loved ones, select a trusted administrator, lower estate taxes, and make charitable contributions. Several trillion dollars will be transferred from one generation to the next over the next two decades. A recent poll showed that over 70% of Americans die without leaving behind a valid will. It is important to remember that without a will to designate beneficiaries, the assets will be disposed of by the state, often without regard to personal wishes or the special needs of relatives. In the absence of a trustee, the disbursement of an estate's assets will be left to the charge of a court-appointed administrator, one who will most likely be unfamiliar with your original intentions. Additionally, without plans for the future, hard-earned assets can be whittled away by estate taxes until there is little left for family members.

Planned giving offers several benefits:

1. It enables you to provide lifetime income for you and/or a beneficiary such as your spouse or another family member.

2. It offers significant tax savings.

3. Most important, it allows you to leave a legacy in the form of a contribution to the RSNA Research and Education Foundation that will benefit the future of radiology.

The Visionaries Program, which will be available to the RSNA membership beginning in July 2000, can offer excellent benefits to you and your loved ones. However, there are many things to consider when planning for the distribution of your estate, and you should contact your own attorney or financial advisor to review the various options that would best fit your situation. For more information on the Visionaries program or planned giving, please contact Christina Newkirk, Assistant Director, Corporate and Individual Donor Relations, RSNA Research and Education Foundation at (630) 368-3738 or by e-mail at newkirk@rsna.org.

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