Planned Giving

It all began with a planned gift

Monroe Dunaway Anderson was a successful banker and businessman who co-founded what would become the world's largest cotton merchant, Anderson, Clayton and Co. He had the foresight and vision to understand the impact of developing an estate plan that would benefit the greater Texas community upon his death. He created a charitable foundation that would receive a large portion of his estate upon his death in 1939.

Soon after taking possession of the estate, the foundation trustees worked with the Texas Legislature to establish a hospital for cancer research and treatment. The M.D. Anderson Foundation agreed to match the $500,000 provided by the Legislature. Because of his generosity, the hospital was named for its benefactor. 

A joint decision

Patty Abbott knows firsthand the advantages of planned giving. Though her husband, Jerry, died recently, the plans they put into place years ago are ensuring a reliable and secure source of retirement income for Patty while helping finance the future of cancer research and patient care. 

About a decade ago, soon after Jerry became an MD Anderson patient, the Abbotts began supporting the Annual Fund. Later, to receive a steady income stream and benefit the institution they loved, they created five charitable gift annuities. This allowed them to make a generous contribution to MD Anderson and receive needed income.

Additionally, they designated MD Anderson to receive a portion of their estate, directing their gift to particular areas of interest.

Annuities can be set up as single life, offering income until the donor dies, or joint life, adding a layer of financial security for a surviving spouse. The Abbotts decided on the joint life annuity option, and Patty will continue to benefit financially from this decision for the rest of her life.

“We are blessed to have such a world-class cancer center as MD Anderson, and it gives me great satisfaction to support the clinicians and researchers who are making a difference for patients around the world,” says Patty. “It’s an investment in the present and the future.”