Hopelessly midwestern

They also understand that by motivating others to give they could have a greater impact, so years ago they started a community fund in their village of Lakeview, Michigan. The pooled resources of that fund have awarded scholarships to local youths that were far greater than what Dallas and Nancy could provide by themselves. In the late 1980s, Dallas, who is in the insurance business, realized that a Charitable Remainder Trust would greatly advance their charitable and financial objectives. According to Dallas, “we are well off, but not wealthy.” Therefore, the Charitable Remainder Trust’s tax and financial benefits were tailor-made to their circumstances. By structuring their gifts in this manner, the Lincolns were able to reduce taxes on their capital gains, generate lifetime income, and take a significant charitable income tax deduction. Most importantly, their favorite causes would receive a larger gift upon their deaths than they could currently afford to make. While charity was always high on Dallas and Nancy’s list of priorities, eye research had not been among the causes they supported. That changed in January 2004, when their 43-year-old son, Kent, was involved in a snowmobile accident that rendered him totally blind in both eyes. Since the accident, Kent has been through years of rehabilitation and has endured considerable financial loss, ultimately selling his home to pay off his debts.

Furthermore, Kent’s relationship with his 8-year-old son, Chase, has changed drastically since the accident, and both are now in counseling. The Lincolns spent a great deal of time trying to learn about Kent’s injury and the possibility of a cure. Eventually, one of Kent’s doctors made them aware of Schepens Institute, and in particular, Dr. Dong Feng Chen’s research in optic nerve regeneration. This was their first ray of hope when all else was telling them there was no chance Kent would ever see again. In July, Dallas and Nancy made Schepens Eye Research Institute the sole ben- eficiary of their Charitable Remainder Trust. Since they no longer need the income that the trust provides, they also decided to relinquish their lifetime interest so that the Institute could use the principal to support Dr. Chen’s work this year. The Lincolns know that their gift alone will not lead to a cure for blindness, but they hope that it will serve as a call to action for others. According to Dallas, “It is our wish that this act will encourage others to do something similar, and the compounding of contributions will provide enough support for Schepens Institute researchers to enable them to give the gift of sight that we all take so much for granted.”