Lifetime and Legacy Gifts Help Ensure the Arboretum Continues to Thrive

Edith “Edie” Northfield grew up in nearby Brookfield and enjoyed visiting the Arboretum both with her parents and for school field trips in the 1960s and ’70s. She is now a Perennial Partner and a member of the 1922 Legacy Society. “I have traveled most of the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Australia, which gave me a very good sense of the unique plants and animals of each region and a strong feeling that I must do whatever I can to preserve them for generations to come,” she says.

By combining lifetime and legacy gifts, Edie supports the Arboretum now and into the future. “I’ve included The Morton Arboretum in my will because I want to do what I can to support an organization that has been a part of my life for more than 50 years,” she says. “I want it to be here for future generations to enjoy. I’ve also decided to make donations during my lifetime, using a portion of my mutual fund, so I can enjoy watching my gift being turned into action.”

She adds, “I feel like I have turned my lifelong planetary preservation beliefs into action by supporting the Arboretum’s goals. I have been happy to meet other people who share the same goals that I have, and I am having a great time while doing it.”

Edie hopes others will join her in making a planned gift to ensure the Arboretum continues to thrive for years to come. “If you are a member, you have already decided that trees are an important part of your life,” she concludes. “The Arboretum has been conducting important research since its inception. They have played a role in the preservation and conservation of trees locally and globally. I want to help that work continue into the future.”