Planning for the Future: Jeff and Melissa’s Legacy With JFCS

August is National Make-A-Will Month, a time to consider how planned giving can create a lasting impact. Jeff Flancer and Melissa Medvin-Flancer have embraced this opportunity by becoming Life & Legacy supporters of Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), ensuring their values and love for community continue well beyond their lifetimes.

Jeff and Melissa’s connection to JFCS runs deep. Jeff’s involvement began in 2014 when his restaurants hosted charity events benefiting the organization. Melissa—who grew up in a family that supported JFCS in the Bay Area—later reconnected through her professional work in the Jewish community. Their shared commitment to service and philanthropy led them to include JFCS in their estate plans.

“Just doing my living trust made me think about it,” Jeff said. “Also, what I would like to leave for my wife and family.”

Leaving a legacy meant something deeply personal to each of them. Jeff saw it as a way to ensure that “the hard work put in during my working years will help others in need.” For Melissa, it was about long-term impact. “I want to ensure that organizations that are important to me during my life are supported when I pass,” she said. “It doesn’t cost anything right now to be a legacy donor, but I know that you will be a recipient when I pass. It makes it so much easier for the you to plan ahead when our planned giving decisions have been made known to you prior.”

Setting up their planned gifts was straightforward. Jeff offered this practical advice: “Do it both with your estate attorney and make sure your brokerage company beneficiaries are up to date, very important to do this easy step.”

In addition to financial giving, Jeff and Melissa have also been active volunteers. Jeff enjoyed attending annual luncheons and connecting with other donors, describing the experience as giving him “a sense of belonging, a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.” Melissa fondly recalled moments like delivering holiday gifts to the JFCS office.

For those thinking about planned giving, Jeff didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts: “If something unexpected happens, will your estate plan work as you wanted, or did you just want to let the descendants figure it out?” His message was simple. “Take action! Just get it done.”

This National Make-A-Will Month, consider the lasting impact you can make. Just like Jeff and Melissa, your legacy can support the life-changing work of JFCS for generations to come.

To learn more about JFCS’ Legacy Society or planned giving, please contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Tina Lopez at Tina.Lopez@jfcsaz.org or 480-679-9131 with any questions or to get started. Together, we can build a stronger future.