Every August, National Make a Will Month gives us a chance to pause and ask a simple but powerful question: what will your legacy be?
For George and Barbara Brightwell, the answer came easily. As longtime friends of ROCK, they saw firsthand how a horse’s steady footsteps could lift a child’s spirit, steady a veteran’s hands, or bring quiet joy to someone facing physical or cognitive challenges. So they made a decision that would carry that impact far beyond their own lifetimes — they included ROCK in their estate plans.
That gift became the seed of our Legacy of Hope program. In 2020, George captured the heart of it in a poem that still guides us today:
As the wind moves to spin the mill lifting the water bringing life and growth
So the horse moves its feet and rider lifting the spirit healing body and mind
Just as the windmill on our campus has long turned wind into water and water into life, the Brightwells understood that a single thoughtful decision — made once, on paper — could keep turning into hope for ROCK families for generations.
Why Make a Will Month Matters
More than half of American adults don’t have an up-to-date will. Without one, decisions about your estate are left to state law rather than your own wishes. Make a Will Month is simply a nudge — a reminder that this is a task worth finally checking off the list, and an opportunity to think about the causes closest to your heart while you’re at it.
You don’t need significant wealth to leave a legacy. A gift through your will, retirement account, or life insurance policy costs nothing today, and it can be adjusted anytime as your life changes.
Ways to Build Your Legacy
Following the Brightwells’ example, ROCK’s Legacy of Hope offers several simple ways to include us in your plans:
- Designation Gifts — Name ROCK as a beneficiary of your will, retirement account, annuity, or insurance policy. It’s the simplest gift to make.
- Charitable Trusts — Provide for yourself or loved ones while also receiving valuable tax benefits.
- Property Gifts — Share real estate, securities, art, or other assets as part of your legacy.
Join the Legacy of Hope
Members of the Legacy of Hope receive advance invitations to ROCK’s annual events, recognition on the Red Iron in the ROCK arena, and recognition in ROCK’s annual report — or, if you prefer, your gift can remain entirely anonymous.
If you’ve already included ROCK in your estate plans, thank you — please let us know so we can welcome you as a member. And if you’re ready to explore what a legacy gift could look like for you, we’re here to help. We’ll work with you, your attorney, and your advisors to design a plan that fits your goals.
Like George and Barbara Brightwell, you can help make sure the mill keeps turning — that ROCK’s herd, our participants, and our community keep growing for years to come.
Contact Karah Powell-Breder at Karah@ROCKride.org or (512) 930-7625 to start the conversation about your legacy.
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