At Working Wardrobes, legacy giving is deeply personal. It’s not just about financial planning—it’s about purpose, values, and the impact we hope to leave behind.
In the months ahead, we will be sharing stories from members of our Legacy Fund who have chosen to include Working Wardrobes in their estate plans. Each story reflects a personal “why”—the meaning behind their decision and the belief that opportunity, dignity, and self-sufficiency should endure for generations to come.
We are honored to begin this series with Richard Ward, one of the earliest members of the Jerri Rosen Legacy Fund. His story is a powerful reflection on purpose, service, and what it means to invest in a future beyond our own lifetime.
Richard Ward’s Legacy Story
For those of us who feel a sense of purpose—a mission in life—legacy is often top of mind. How will we be remembered? What impact will we have made on our community and the world? How have our efforts truly made a difference? These questions are central to how we find fulfillment and meaning.
Part of my own purpose came into focus years ago, when I realized I could use my skills, time, and resources to help others learn and grow. I discovered that the real rewards in life come not from personal gratification, but from helping others succeed. Since then, I’ve dedicated my efforts to creating that kind of impact.
I was naturally drawn to Jerri Rosen when I met her many years ago at the Center Club. Through the Center Club Cares Charity Program—which I helped create—Working Wardrobes became one of our early grant partners. Over time, I learned more about the organization and became a true believer in its mission: helping people overcome barriers to employment and achieve self-sufficiency, success, and prosperity. I had long believed in the saying, “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.” Working Wardrobes was living that philosophy every day.
I became a donor, and when a devastating fire destroyed their facility, I gave again and helped bring community leaders together to support the organization’s recovery. Working Wardrobes had become important to me—and it remains so.
When Jerri shared that she was retiring and introduced me to Bonni Pomush as her successor, the three of us met for lunch. I was immediately impressed by Bonni’s energy, vision, and leadership. During that conversation, she shared plans for establishing the Jerri Rosen Legacy Fund to help secure Working Wardrobes’ future—and asked if I would be one of the first to make a legacy commitment. I didn’t hesitate. I was already giving annually, and it felt natural to include Working Wardrobes in my estate plans. The gift might be realized years in the future, but the organization was planning thoughtfully for the long term—and I wanted to be part of that.
Since then, I’ve continued to reflect on my legacy and have expanded my estate plans to support causes that matter deeply to me.
When Bonni later asked me to serve as the 2022 Jerri Rosen Legacy Honoree, I was honored. I joked that the recognition was “largely about dying,” but humor aside, I’m proud to be among the first to make this commitment. A legacy gift is often easier to make than one during our lifetime, and its impact can be profound. Most importantly, it ensures that Working Wardrobes will continue—many years from now—to help people build lives of dignity and opportunity.
If you’re considering a legacy gift, I encourage you to reflect on the impact you want to make. Making that commitment today helps ensure that Working Wardrobes can continue to “teach people to fish” for generations to come.