A significant disparity exists in American estate planning, with over 80% of people recognizing its importance but less than a third having established a will or trust, according to a 2025 Trust & Will Estate Planning Report. To address this gap, the American Heart Association is hosting a free educational webinar on Thursday, February 26, 2026, focused on revocable living trusts and charitable remainder unitrusts. The session aims to demystify the estate planning process for donors of any age.
The webinar will feature guest experts in wealth management, estate law, and trust administration, including Clare Ceplecha, JD, CFTA, Mary Alfred, JD, and Samuel M. DiPietro. Over the course of an hour, the session will introduce the definition of trusts, explain how they are created and maintained, detail the rules of simple and complex trusts, and demonstrate how trusts can be useful tools for charitable giving. Lee Shapiro, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association, emphasized the goal of making estate planning accessible, stating the webinar will use plain language and practical examples so people can feel comfortable taking the next step.
For participants, the implications are direct and personal. Estate planning is critical for securing financial assets and ensuring one's wishes are honored. The webinar provides a no-cost opportunity to gain foundational knowledge from professionals, potentially simplifying a process many find overwhelming. Attendees will receive free resources about charitable trusts and revocable living trusts upon registration, which can serve as a starting point for more detailed personal planning.
The broader impact of this educational initiative extends to the philanthropic sector and public health. Planned giving is a powerful mechanism for creating lasting impact. Donations from planned gifts are vital to sustaining the American Heart Association's role as the nation's leading non-governmental funder of cardiovascular research, with more than $5.9 billion invested in scientific discovery since 1949. This generosity fuels lifesaving research and education. Specifically, these contributions allow the organization to support its 2028 Impact Goal, which aims to drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier communities.
Donors who choose to give a legacy gift through charitable financial planning are recognized for their leadership as members of the Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle, a designation within the Cor Vitae Society. This society is named in tribute to one of the Association's visionary founders. By educating potential donors on tools like charitable remainder unitrusts, the Association not only empowers individuals to manage their estates but also secures future funding for its critical mission. The free webinar represents a strategic investment in donor education that can have long-term benefits for both individual financial security and the advancement of public health research. Advanced online registration is required to attend the session.
