Good Shepherd Society Offers a Way to Leave a Lasting Legacy
Good Shepherd Society member Leila Dibsy Giries’ faith has always been an integral part of her life. She was born in 1940 in Ein Karim, Palestine to John and Mary Dibsy, and when she was eight years old, they were forced to flee during the Nakba. They were given refuge in Iraq, where her sister was born a few years later. This time was extremely heart wrenching for the family, but their faith in God gave them the strength to persevere during those difficult years.
Eventually, they were able to come to the United States and rebuild their lives. Leila remembers how her parents’ tireless work ethic and their devout faith helped them survive and even thrive. Because her parents were committed to helping the Christians of Palestine, Leila has been a member and faithful supporter of FFHL since 2000. One of the ways she honors her parents is by providing a scholarship in their name for the deserving Christian Palestinians of the Holy Land.
Leila shares,
“I believe in the mission of FFHL to provide education and housing for our Christian Palestinian families, and I would like to see the foundation expand their efforts to safeguard Christianity in the lives of ordinary Palestinians. For the Christians in the Holy Land, financial support is a tangible way to carry out Christ’s mission, as well as building bridges of understanding with the neighboring Palestinian Muslim community who also suffer the injustice of the occupation. At my core is a thirst for social justice as there can be no peace without that very foundation. I believe FFHL provides the opportunity for building such bridges and providing real and needed assistance to many deserving Christians in occupied Palestine.”
Leila wishes to encourage other FFHL supporters to consider adding FFHL to their estate plans to help leave a legacy of support for vulnerable Holy Land Christians for years to come.
Learn How to Give and discover gift options that provide tax and income benefits. Discover the best planned gift to meet your goals. For information on how to make a legacy gift to Franciscan Foundation to the Holy Land, please call Denise Scalzo at 855-500-3345.
About the Good Shepherd Society
One of the most meaningful gifts is one that impacts others beyond our lifetime. The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land formed the Good Shepherd Society which is comprised of a special group of donors who have made a planned gift. As a gesture of gratitude for all the good fortune in their lifetime, these legacy donors want to benefit the struggling Christian men, women and children trying to remain in the Holy Land.
Many make these planned gifts in recognition that we have been blessed by our life circumstances such as access to excellent healthcare, education, freedom of expression and freedom of religion, and have enjoyed peace and security. As God chose this life for us, we need to be faithful stewards of these bountiful gifts and use them to further His plan for His Kingdom.
The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land would be very grateful if you chose to invest in our mission. There are a number of ways you can join the Good Shepherd Society through a gift of stocks and bonds, retirement assets, real estate, insurance and more. Some charitable vehicles even benefit you during your lifetime.
