Beverly Railsback loved taking walks around the parks and preserves near her Lambertville home, often snapping photos of flowers or a favorite tree to share with family and friends. She cherished Hunterdon County’s natural beauty and wanted future generations to love it too.

So Beverly found a simple yet powerful way to protect the places she loved by including Hunterdon Land Trust in her legacy giving plans. Legacy giving, or planned giving, is part of estate planning and allows you to take advantage of various giving opportunities to help you achieve your charitable and financial objectives.

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Beverly worked for more than 30 years at the New Jersey State Library, retiring in 2006, and was a 51-year member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Washington Crossing in Titusville, where she was part of the church’s HomeFront team, a nonprofit that works toward ending homelessness in central New Jersey. She also was very involved with animal welfare.

Friends remember Beverly as an unassuming woman with a big, generous heart.

“She was this petite, amazing woman,” said Michele Downie, a friend of Beverly’s and a fellow member of the Unitarian-Universalist Church. “She liked to help as much as she could in her unassuming way. And she did so much.

“Nature was very important to Beverly. One of the principles of the Unitarian Universalism faith, which she was strongly ensconced in, is interdependent love of all things and nature is part of that. She lived in Lambertville for much of her adult life so Hunterdon County was very important to her,” Downie continued.

Long-time friend Charlie Groth agreed, and reflected on how Beverly loved to explore Lambertville.

“Beverly just loved her community,” Groth said. “She was walking around Lambertville, up and down the towpath, until just a couple of weeks before her death.”

Sadly, Beverly passed away on October 26, 2021 at the age of 79. She decided to honor her love for nature by including a bequest for Hunterdon Land Trust in her planned giving. A charitable bequest means leaving an organization a financial gift in your will, which is distributed after your death.

HLT’s staff was deeply heartened by the gift. HLT Executive Director Patricia Ruby said Beverly’s bequest goes beyond supporting annual operating needs and will be invested in HLT’s future to build resiliency and support future growth.

“We are so touched that Beverly entrusted us with this significant gift, and we will honor her life, lived in service to her community and the special places she loved, by working hard to protect and steward this incredible place we call home,” Ruby said.

You, too, can make a profound statement toward protecting the places you love by including Hunterdon Land Trust in your planned giving. There are a number of ways you can make a planned gift to support us. You can make gifts through your will or outside it, and even gifts that give you income for life. To review the many options and learn more, visit our website here.

Please remember to always consult with your accountant, attorney or personal financial advisor when considering making a planned gift.