Andrew is a world traveler, visiting many countries, both developed and developing. Foreigners are often shocked when he talks about our nation.
Some of his work revolves around child and maternal health, of which nutrition is a key factor in healthy development.
“I mention that food and nutrition are also problems in the U.S., and that in our capital region, there are half a million people in need of food assistance. [People] cannot believe that in America there are mothers, children and families who go to bed hungry, and that under-nutrition is a problem here,” he says.
“When I first moved to Washington, DC, 20 years ago, I began donating food to the Capital Area Food Bank. After working overseas for seven years, I returned to Washington and became more involved with direct financial giving,” he says.
The retired medical school professor and global health consultant says the more he learns about hunger in our region, the stronger he feels about the issue.
“The need is beyond most people’s imagination. The need covers a very wide array of individuals and families, including working people who cannot meet the nutritional needs of their families and need periodical supplemental help, to those in dire conditions – the elderly on minimal assistance, the sick and disabled and those who lost their jobs in the economic crisis. Some people need assistance for a few months, others for a sustained period of time,” noting he finds the numbers shocking.
But Andrew’s generosity of food donations and monetary gifts is now taking on a new form. He has decided to include the Capital Area Food Bank in his future and in his memory.
“Food and nutrition needs are not going away, definitely not in my lifetime. With my financial advisor, I selected an annuity whose core investment was unlikely to be used, as it creates the income I need without touching the deposited amount,” he says. “Since food is so important to me, it’s comforting to know that after I pass on, my investment in the CAFB will continue.”
Andrew’s personal convictions, along with the tools from the CAFB website and the input of his financial advisor made his decision crystal clear.
“When I was a university student, there were times I could not afford a lot of food. Peanut butter and tuna fish were my normal diet. I always thought that one of the most important advantages to completing my education would be to have whatever food I wanted,” he recalls. “To me, food was always the luxury I wanted, even more than a fancy home or car. Food shouldn’t be a luxury, but for many Americans such things as fresh fruits and vegetables are a luxury out of their reach.”
An annuity is essentially a multi-purpose insurance contract terminating in a payment stream. In this case, Andrew made a decision to include the CAFB as a beneficiary of his annuity in his will – a decision that will undoubtedly help the food bank nourish children and families for years to come.