Hollomon's devotion to Red Sox inspires charitable gift annuity
Generous Dana-Farber supporter and staunch Red Sox fan Nancy Hollomon poses with her prized possession: a line-up card straight from the dugout. Sox right-fielder Trot Nixon received the card from Manager Terry Francona, had his teammates autograph it, and then he and his wife, Kathryn, presented it to Hollomon, who has known the Nixons since Trot's rookie year.
Nancy Hollomon is the consummate Red Sox fan. After moving to the Boston area in 1970, she soon became a fixture at Fenway Park. As a season ticket holder attending 75 games annually, she learned about the team's important, 52-year partnership with the Jimmy Fund. To honor her favorite ball club and its longstanding commitment to fighting cancer, Hollomon created a $10,000 charitable gift annuity (CGA) at Dana-Farber.
"My talents don't make me a medical researcher, a caregiver, doctor, or nurse," said Hollomon. "But so many people have done so much to help fight against cancer that I, too, wanted to take action."
Hollomon's CGA helps sustain the Institute's lifesaving work and provides her with a guaranteed annual income in return. In addition to providing substantial tax benefits, her CGA secured a higher rate of return than other low-risk options such as bonds and CDs.
"My CGA gave me the ability to make a gift now and still receive some income during my lifetime," said Hollomon. "I am old enough that I'm trying to be wise about planning for the future, and my CGA allows me to be generous and safe." As the 2005 Major League Baseball season winds down, Hollomon is confident that the Sox will go all the way and retain their world championship title. She believes in the power of teamwork and is optimistic that Dana-Farber's team of doctors can win the war on cancer.
"Everyone hopes that there will be a day when the threat of cancer is gone,"she said. "Together, perhaps, we can all help make a difference."
Printed in Planning Matters, Summer 2005
