Gift for a Loved One with Special Needs

Ralph and Elizabeth Mundell's daughter Tammy was an only child with special needs. Early in her childhood, they became familiar with Pine Castle and volunteered throughout their lifetimes. Once she became an adult, Tammy benefitted from many of Pine Castle's programs. The Mundell family lived very modestly, and unbeknown to Pine Castle, they had saved enough to create a well-endowed special needs trust to care for Tammy long after their passing.

Tammy moved into one of Pine Castle's group homes and became even more a part of the "Pine Castle family" as well. When her father passed away, her mother followed shortly after. As planned, their estate poured into the trust they had established and their daughter's needs were covered in full, enabling her to live in the Pine Castle group home until her death. This was only a few years after losing her parents, so a large amount of her trust was remaining including a neighboring property Ralph and Elizabeth had owned. After Tammy's passing, the remainder in the trust and mortgaged property became the gift of a lifetime and created the largest charitable gift Pine Castle had ever received.

Jon May, long time Pine Castle CEO at the time, shared that "The Mundell's legacy gift was our biggest gift ever and a total surprise! We simply had no idea they had named Pine Castle as the beneficiary of Tammy's trust. When the news came, I was flabbergasted. They had lived so modestly but had planned for their daughter's care so well, and generously for Pine Castle too!"

The Mundell's had intended to make their gift to Pine Castle in perpetuity, helping others for generations to come in memory of their beloved Tammy. So their donation created an endowment fund that continues to grow year after year, providing generously for those who benefit from its programs thanks to the Mundell's foresight and generosity.