When Margaret Sheehan, the executive director of Teachers' Treasures in Indianapolis, received a call offering her nonprofit over $1 million, she could hardly believe it. The amazing offer, and more than a dozen more like it, was the final wish of Terry Kahn, who passed away in 2021. A 30-year Veterans Administration employee known for his frugality, Kahn had no immediate family and chose to leave his $13-million estate to charity, without specifying which ones.
The job of figuring out where the money should go fell to attorney Dwayne Isaacs, the executor of Kahn's estate, who reached out to various nonprofits in Indianapolis, asking what they would do with $1 million. The responses were of disbelief and excitement. Some organizations even missed the opportunity because they thought the offer was too good to be true.
About a dozen nonprofits eventually received a share of Kahn's $13 million estate. Teachers' Treasures, for instance, received $1.5 million, approximately double their annual budget. Kahn's choice to live frugally and donate his wealth to charity has significantly impacted these organizations. Both Sheehan and Isaacs believe Kahn would be delighted to see the positive outcomes of his generosity.
Source: CBS NEWS