Legacy Circle Testimonials

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Emily Edwards

Summer Search Leadership Council Member

Pictured: Emily and one of her early mentees, Karla.

Q: What is your vision for the future of Summer Search?

I am deeply moved and motivated by Summer Search being led by proximal leaders. Back in 1999, 2000, when we got Summer Search Boston going, we had a really rather specific goal, of having alumni lead and drive the organization. They would be able to center how it should evolve and change and how the impact should look over time in a way that was much more effective than any of us.

I hope Summer Search in the future is going to change, and I hope it’s going to look quite different from the 20 years that I worked there. I hope it’s going to be that much closer to communities, that much more integrated in public schools, that much more a part of bringing out just the incredible positive strengths and voices and leadership and inspiration of all these new generations.

In summary, I hope and think it’s going to look and be different than I can even picture because it’s just going to keep evolving and growing in ways that are going to help and challenge all of us.  

Q: Since you left Summer Search as an employee in 2018, what have you been most inspired by from the organization?

The first thing is watching alumni continue to rise into leadership – to be donors, be board members, be staff. I’m just continuously blown away by our alumni. That is probably always going to be number one.

Number two, any time I meet a teacher, a principal, a guidance counselor who has contact with Summer Search and can speak to some of the ways Summer Search helps with the well-being of the community – helps young people develop skills not just to be leaders but to be calm and regulated, contribute positively to the community, and be engaged in community building – that is just very moving and motivating to me.

Because as a public schools mom, I see the wear and tear that has happened on Boston Public Schools and the on the students and on the adults in the building as well, and I think Summer Search is good for absolutely everyone.

Q: For those who are considering introducing a charity into their legacy planning, what would your advice be?

It’s never too soon to think about how you want your living philanthropy and the philanthropy that outlives you, to live your values. Just the same way that we all plan for a future to make the lives of the community better, make our kids’ lives better, our grandkids, I think considering not just putting Summer Search into your estate plan, but also sharing that publicly and inspiring others to do so, is a profound and beautiful way to live our values and build a United States of the future.

Q: What inspired you to make a legacy gift to Summer Search?

Summer Search has been my family since I read the stories and heard the voices of Summer Search students in my senior year of college. Their bravery and resilience, fierceness and back bone, made me want to come work at Summer Search forever. And then I was so fortunate and lucky to have my first job out of college be at Summer Search and to grow with the organization as a staff member for 20 years.

Every single one of those first voices and first students that I met, and then each student I meet after that over now about 25 years, holds me accountable to bravery, good, trying to make the world a better place. Trying to make America more equitable, more fair, less racist.

So, because it has been so central in my family’s life, my husband and I knew when we did our estate planning that we would include our three children and our other family member, Summer Search, in that estate planning.  

We’d Love To Hear From You!

If you’ve already included Summer Search in your estate planning, we’d love to hear from you and recognize you for your support. You can contact us at legacy@summersearch.org or 855.605.8383.

More Ways to Donate

Credit Card Gifts

To make a credit card gift, visit our donation page.

Check Gifts

Mail a check made out to Summer Search to our lockbox: 

Summer Search
PO BOX 7731
San Francisco, CA 94120-7731 

Please include a note with any special instructions that you would like us to follow when processing your donation, including designation for your gift. 

Stock Gifts

To make a gift of stock or securities, please complete the form which is located here and send to donate@summersearch.org to alert us of your intended donation. Below is our account information: 

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Charles Kerl CFP®
101 California Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.693.6652
Fax: 510.379.5748
Charles.Kerl@MS.com

Title of Account: Summer Search
DTC No.: DTC #0015
Account No.: 101-784097

For assistance making gifts of stock, please send an email to donate@summersearch.org. 

Wire Transfers

For assistance sending funds by wire transfer, please contact us via email at donate@summersearch.org. 

Cryptocurrency 

To make a gift of cryptocurrency to Summer Search, we recommend donating your cryptocurrency to the organization that hosts your donor advised fund and recommending a grant to Summer Search from your donor advised fund.  

If you do not have a donor advised fund, we recommend you explore opening a donor advised fund if you’d like to make a gift of cryptocurrency to Summer Search. 

Estate & Legacy Gifts

If you are interested in making a planned gift, visit https://summersearch.org/legacy

Employer Match

Employer Match – Make Your Gift Go Twice as Far 

Many companies match donations made by their employees. To see if your company will match your donation, and to access the appropriate forms, guidelines, and instructions, please use the search box below. 

Double the Donation:

Event Sponsorship

Special events hosted in all Summer Search cities and online provide a powerful opportunity to engage with our community. Sponsorship lends visibility locally and nationwide. 

See Our Events 

Corporate & Foundation Support 

Institutional funding ensures that Summer Search’s young leaders gain access to empowering opportunities and be prepared to enter the workforce. 

Visit Our Partner Page

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Summer Search is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our federal tax ID number is 68-0200138.

If you prefer, you can make a donation by sending a check to:

Summer Search
PO BOX 7731
San Francisco, CA 94120-7731

Please include a note with any special instructions that you would like us to follow when processing your donation, including designation for your gift.

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