A home run for The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber: Benefactor makes the right call with a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)
Former Boston Red Sox CEO John Harrington (left) presented the Thomas A. and Jean R. Yawkey Memorial Award to Bill Pullan, pictured here with his late wife, Carol, in 1999.
Over the past 30 years, Bill Pullan, the New England commissioner for Babe Ruth Baseball, has been going to bat for the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber in a big way. Under his leadership, the tournament directors, coaches, and players have raised nearly $1 million for cancer research and care at Dana-Farber through a number of baseball tournaments.
The relationship began when Pullan, who lives in Connecticut, was introduced to the Jimmy Fund during his first few months as commissioner. In 1986, Connecticut's Babe Ruth teams ranked last out of all New England states in raising funds for the Jimmy Fund and Pullan took it upon himself to personally change that standing. Last year, his state raised more than all others combined.
"Call it a matter of pride, but I wanted to be the best," he said. "I have had many players come to me and say they don't know where their trophies are, but they do remember and appreciate having been involved in the many Jimmy Fund tournaments we organized."
Pullan even wanted to best himself and his past record of giving: He also established a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA), an irrevocable gift arrangement with Dana-Farber that pays him a fixed income for the rest of his life. As a result of his gift, the Dana-Farber Society, an exclusive group of Dana-Farber benefactors who have included the Institute in their estate plans, welcomed Pullan into its ranks.
For Pullan, the reason to create a CGA was two-fold.
"I believe in the Jimmy Fund and it's also nice to get something in return," Pullan explained. "The money goes to where it is needed most, and the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber are able to take big steps in the right direction toward helping people fighting this disease."