You can create a legacy of parks and green space for future generations by including the Fairfax County Park Foundation in your will, as an insurance beneficiary or other planned and estate giving vehicle. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. Consult with your attorney or financial advisor before taking any action that affects your estate.

Legacy Circle

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to each of the following Legacy Circle Members. Individuals listed below have pledged to create a lasting legacy for the future of parks by including the Fairfax County Park Foundation as a beneficiary in their Will or other Planned Gift.

Our Legacy Circle members who have passed are commemorated with a leaf . The park improvements and outreach programs are made possible through their estates. This thoughtful largesse continues to benefit thousands of children and adults who enjoy Fairfax County parks! Scroll down to see their enduring stories.

Other individuals listed below have pledged their intent to create a lasting legacy for the future of their parks.

• Anonymous Donors (49)
• Anonymous Donor (Difficult Run Stream Valley Trail)
• Anonymous Donor (Frying Pan Farm Park)
• Anonymous Donor (Franconia Rec Center)
• Anonymous Donor (Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail)
• Anonymous Donor (Huntley Meadows Park)
• Susan G. Akroyd (Green Spring Gardens Moon Gate)
• The Estate of Ralph Apton (Riverbend Park)
• The Estate of Judith Ann Bailey (Stewardship Education Center)
• Olander Banks, Sr. (Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Community Park)
• Julie Clemente (Clemyjontri Park)
• Dorothy Abigail Cross (Green Spring Gardens & Manchester Lakes Park)
• Judith ‘Judy’ B. Currier (Green Spring Gardens)
• Louise M. Duhamel
• LeRoy ‘Daddy Roy’ Eakin, Sr. (Eakin Community & Eakin Mantua Parks)
• David L. Gorsline (Huntley Meadows Park)
• Timothy B. Hackman (Riverbend Park)
• Jim Hawthorne (The Lazar Family Natural Resource Stewardship Fund)
• David Hendricks and Lorraine McKenna-Hendricks (Green Spring Gardens)
• Robert Kevin Holland (Hidden Oaks Nature Center)
• Maya A. Huber (Fairfax County Farmers Markets)
• Helen L. Kafka (FCPA priority outreach projects and Forever Fund)
• Adele G. Lebowitz (Clemyjontri Park)
• Ruthanne G. Lodato (FCPA Music Class Scholarships)
• Margaret M. Loveless (Westgrove Park Off Leash Dog Area)
• Theresa A. Maggi (Camps, Classes and Equity Outreach & Mobile Nature Center)
• Elisabeth Guerry Newton (Chessie BIG Backyard Treehouse)
• Eugene ‘Gene’ C. Nivera (Unrestricted Funds for priority park projects)
• Georgia E. Rangel
• Arleen B. Richman (Huntley Meadows Park)
• Sue Rowell (Clemyjontri Park & Chessie’s BIG Backyard)
• Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith   (Grist Mill Park Soccer Field & Honoring America’s Veterans)
• Norman Tadlock (Riverbend Park)
• Judith Vajda (Unrestricted Funds for priority park projects)
• Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Eakin Walsh (Eakin Community Park & Unrestricted Funds for priority park projects)

Learn how you can make a lasting difference as described in the Grow Your Legacy in Fairfax County Parks brochure.

Gifts of all sizes are welcome. Each gift plays a vital role in caring for our parks.

Ways to Leave Your Legacy

Give by your Will or Trust

Contributions may be made by bequeathing a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your residual estate to FCPF.

In addition to monetary funds, appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate can be included in your Will.

A simple statement is all that’s needed to enrich Fairfax County parks for years to come. Here is that sample language to share with your attorney.

“I give [a specific dollar amount; ___ percentage of my estate; remainder of my estate; or property] to the Fairfax County Park Foundation, Inc., a charitable organization located in Fairfax, Virginia, Tax ID 54-2019179, to benefit [the most critical needs of Fairfax County parks; or name of FCPA park or park program].

See more examples of statements to match your desires through a will or trust.

Once your Will or Trust is signed, retain a copy for your files.

Share with the Fairfax County Park Foundation so we may recognize your Legacy Gift (by name or as anonymous) and document your future wishes.

Give by Beneficiary Designation

Naming the Fairfax County Park Foundation as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, certificate of deposit, brokerage or bank account is an easy way to leave your legacy. Designating FCPF as beneficiary of some or all remining contributions in your donor-advised fund is also possible.

Ask for a Beneficiary Form from your insurance agent, retirement plan administrator, broker or financial institution.

Here is that sample language to include on the beneficiary form.

“Fairfax County Park Foundation, Inc., Fairfax, VA, Tax ID 54-2019179, as [sole, partial or continent] charitable beneficiary of your account.”

Return the signed form to your administrator; retain a copy for your files.

Share with the Fairfax County Park Foundation so we may recognize your Legacy Gift (by name or as anonymous) and document your future wishes.

Discuss these and other giving methods with your attorney, accountant or other financial advisor. You may be surprised to find that planned gifts can have significant tax benefits for both donors and heirs.

Complete our Letter of Intent to make a Planned Estate Gift to notify the Park Foundation in advance of your wishes.

Gifts resulting from an estate settlement may be recognized in the Park Foundation’s Legacy Circle. This is a fitting way for family or an executor to honor the life of someone who loved Fairfax County parks.

For more information or to inform us of your decision to include the Fairfax County Park Foundation in your estate plans, contact:

Roberta A. "Bobbi" Longworth, Executive Director
Fairfax County Park Foundation
703-324-8581
Email

Susan G. Akroyd was a retired principal at Parklawn Elementary, a Title I school. Susan is memorialized in the Moon Gate garden at beautiful Green Spring Gardens where she enjoyed conversations and many walks with her dear friend, Victor E. Schwartz, Esq.

A generous gift was made from the Estate of Ralph Apton for a memorial bench and support of FCPA’s Riverbend Park along the banks of the Potomac.

Judith Ann Bailey’s legacy continues by funding the Stewardship Education Center’s Animal Attraction and Observation Area at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

Olander Banks, Sr. gifted his family homestead that is now the Olander Banks, Sr. and Margaret Lomax Banks Community Park in Springfield, VA. He thoughtfully requested memorial gifts to the Park Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Julie Clemente partnered with husband Dan and FCPF to raise initial funds to build the accessible Clemyjontri Park. Her legacy continues with gifts made in Julie's memory.

Dorothy A Cross of Springfield, Virginia is memorialized at Green Spring Gardens’ Moon Gate Garden and a bench at Manchester Lakes Park through a bequest gift via her friends Ginny and Walt Pankow.

Judith ‘Judy’ B. Currier left a special legacy through her estate to benefit Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA.

LeRoy ‘Daddy Roy’ Eakin, Sr. donated 14.5 acres that became Fairfax County’s first parks, Eakin Community & Eakin Mantua parks in Fairfax, VA.

Jim Hawthorne inspired his step daughter, Heidi Allen, (pictured) to support natural resource management as a continuation of his legacy through a generous estate gift.

Maya A. Huber inspired memorial gifts in lieu of flowers to help Fairfax County Farmers Markets to continue her legacy.

Helen L. Kafka included FCPF as a beneficiary of her IRA. Her thoughtfulness helped fund meaningful park outreach programs and endowing future needs of FCPA parks.

Adele Lebowitz gifted land to create Clemyjontri Park in McLean, VA where every child can play.

Ruthanne G. Lodato of Alexandria taught piano, fostered creativity, confidence and personal growth and instilled a lasting love of music. Donations made in her memory allowed children without means to receive FCPA music classes. Piano classes were chosen by each of the awardees.

Margaret M. Loveless bequeathed funds to help Westgrove Off Leash Dog Area where canines and owners socialize and play in Alexandria, VA.

Elisabeth Guerry Newton funded the accessible Treehouse that inspired Chessie’s BIG Backyard and more at Lee District Park in Franconia, VA.

Eugene ‘Gene’ C. Nivera included a special unrestricted legacy gift to the Park Foundation in his will to support priority projects that enrich Fairfax County parks.

Arleen B. Richman bequeathed a generous gift for birding and other naturalist programs at Huntley Meadows Park, in Alexandria, VA.

Sue P. Rowell inspired memorial gifts in lieu of flowers to the Park Foundation for the accessible Clemyjontri Park. Her legacy continues with donations made for adapted outreach and features there and at Chessie’s BIG Backyard.

Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith was at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck. His legacy includes the Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith Memorial Field at Grist Mill Park and the FCPA Honoring America’s Veterans outreach program.

Norman Tadlock was a lover of nature, veteran, and an advocate for ensuring a barrier free environment for persons with disabilities. A special memorial grant in his honor was provided to FCPF by the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation to improve Riverbend Park.