The Ministry of Estate Giving

Estate planning and ministry are not often used in the same sentence, but to Bette Theobald and Kelly Bartmann they are closely connected. As director of Planned Giving for the Catholic Foundation, Theobald has spent the past 10 years helping people put together estate plans, plans that help people while they are alive and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy after their death.

"There are few things as intimidating for people than estate planning," said Theobald, who spent 22 years in bank trust management before
coming to the Catholic Foundation. "Yet having a good plan is so important."

The ministry for Theobald comes in helping people put a plan together that accomplishes their goals. "Many of us have the natural tendency to put off and most people do not like to think about death. It is so rewarding to see the joy and relief that
one experiences when they know they have a good plan in place."

This year Kelly Bartmann joins the planned giving team. Bartmann, has worked with the Catholic Foundation for the past 6 years and has recently joined Theobald in the Planned Giving office. This team will work with individuals and their personal advisors to help donors achieve their charitable and financial goals. And when appropriate, they will help in the process of selecting the most suitable giving opportunity for their individual situations.

"It is all based on the call to stewardship, seeing everything we have, and all that we are, as coming from God as a precious and irreplaceable gift," said Theobald. "Stewardship is a profound spiritual experience. But it is also very practical, affecting all aspects of our lives, including our estate planning."

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