Food and wine have always played a big role in the Galioto family, whether it was Sunday dinner at Nona’s or Thanksgiving at Mom’s. Every meal was about more than what was on the table; it was about being together, sharing stories, and laughing until it hurt.

Recently, my niece Hannah put together a family cookbook with all our favorite recipes. And now, since Mom’s passing, that book has become something really special—it’s sparked so many memories and conversations, helping us keep her close.

Our estate plan ensures that these traditions, and the values they represent, will continue to bring our family together for generations to come.

As an avid gardener and beekeeper, the legacy I want to leave my children and grandchildren emphasizes the importance of individual action in protecting the environment, particularly through restoring native plants and biodiversity in our yards and communities. I hope they'll continue contributing to the ecological health of our environment by planting native species, which support local wildlife and pollinators. Every small effort can collectively create a significant impact, rebuilding ecological networks even in suburban and urban areas. This approach empowers people to see themselves as crucial stewards of the planet, fostering a sense of responsibility and hope for environmental recovery. Our estate plan reflects these values, ensuring the next generation has both the resources and inspiration to carry this work forward.

My wife Debbie and I are living a wonderful life at the beach in Delaware. For us, however, true happiness is knowing our two daughters, their spouses, and our four grandchildren are happy, healthy, and successful in their lives. Our parents always put us first and made sure we were taken care of after they were gone. With that in mind, Debbie and I take great pleasure in knowing that we’ve positioned ourselves in a way that when we’re gone Our children and grandchildren will be left with a legacy of love, security, and the knowledge that we always put them first.

Over forty years ago, our family began a simple tradition—spending the week of July 4th together at the Delaware beaches. What started as an annual getaway grew into something much more: a “beach week” legacy. We dreamed of building a seasonal home to keep beach week alive, and that dream came true.

Now retired and living full-time at our coastal home, we open our doors each summer to children, grandchildren, and friends, inviting them to share in the magic we’ve always loved.

There are no heirlooms in glass cases, just the rhythm of waves, the sizzle of shrimp boils, the laughter of kids jet skiing, and the joy of catching crabs off the dock. Whether it’s body surfing, boating, building sandcastles, or stories by the firepit, this is how we pass down our legacy, one beach week at a time. A tradition built on salt air, sunshine, and family.

Life doesn't always go according to plan, and past financial challenges have limited my ability to give to my church during my lifetime. By creating an Irrevocable Trust, I've been able to protect my most valuable asset—my home—and ensure it serves a meaningful purpose. Within the Trust, I've specified that a percentage of my home's market value will go to St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church. I'm grateful for the guidance PWW Law provided in helping me create this legacy for my church and honor my faith in a lasting way.

Growing up on a farm in central Illinois shaped who I am. Each day brought chores—feeding animals, tending crops, and working in the garden that carried us through the long winters. Those early years taught me patience, responsibility, and respect for the rhythm of life.

Because of that foundation, I was ready when life took me far from the farm. I've been fortunate to see places most only dream of, and Paul and I have collected art and memories from around the world. My trip to Rovaniemi, Finland, stands out vividly—guiding a reindeer sled beneath the Northern Lights, surrounded by kind, generous people. In that frozen beauty, I felt the same quiet wonder I knew on the farm.

Our estate plan reflects what these experiences taught us: that richness comes from staying curious, being generous, and cherishing both roots and horizons. We hope our legacy encourages our family and the charities we support to explore the world with open hearts, just as we have.

For the past 25 years, our beach house has been the heart of our family's happiest memories. We've lovingly updated and improved it over the years with one vision in mind: that our grandchildren would one day bring their own children here, building the same traditions we've cherished. By establishing a Trust and using our trusted family as Trustees, we've ensured this special place will stay in the family for generations to come. Beyond the beach house, we've also set aside funds for our grandchildren's college education, giving them the foundation to pursue their dreams. Our estate plan is about more than protecting assets, it's about preserving the moments that matter and investing in the futures of those we love most.

Every Sunday as a child our family had dinner at my grandparents’ house. After dinner I would watch my grandmother work on her counted cross stitch. She taught me how to stitch when I was old enough to thread the needle. I spent many years stitching, bonding, and learning while stitching with her. Now we host family dinners where my grandmother’s stitching is displayed alongside mine and where I am teaching our grandchildren to cross stitch as the lessons and bonding continue. I am hopeful they will continue the tradition, and our stitching treasures will adorn their homes in the future for them to remember our times together. Knowing we have a Trust that captures our wishes for our children and grandchildren is such a great comfort, joy, and relief to us.

Growing up in the 1950s, we didn't have much money to spare. My siblings and I, born in 1944, 1947, and 1950, knew what it meant to make do. But every single year, without fail, our mom ordered the full package of school pictures: the 8x10, the 4x6s, and the wallet sizes. At the time, it seemed like just what parents did. Now, decades later, when I look at those photos, I realize how our parents turned something small into something monumental. They were capturing us, preserving our childhood, investing in memories when they had so little to invest. I lost my dad in 1981, my mom in 1987, and my middle brother in 2020, but those school pictures remain, tangible proof of a family held together by love and intention. Our estate plan carries forward that same principle: making sure the people we love know they mattered, long after we're gone.

Family has always meant everything to me, not just the family I was born into or the one that raised me, but the beautiful, expanding circle of people I've chosen to hold close. Being Nana to my grandchildren is one of life's greatest joys. Whether it's celebrating a baby shower for a little one on the way or spending precious time with my favorite (okay, only!) grandson, these moments remind me what truly matters. Our family has grown in unexpected and wonderful ways over the years, and our estate plan ensures that all the people we love, our children, our grandchildren, and the extended family we've gathered along the way, are cared for and connected. It's about more than assets; it's about preserving the bonds that make us who we are.

After years of genealogical research, we discovered something remarkable: our ancestor Alexander Maddox landed in Nassawaddox, Virginia in 1631—just miles from where we retired in Lewes, Delaware. Without realizing it, we'd come full circle, returning to the very place our family's American story began. That same research took us to Minfeld, Germany, where we visited the 1,000-year-old church our Kauffman ancestors attended before emigrating in 1752. Now our grandson Robert is carrying this research forward, uncovering the roots that connect us across centuries and continents. Meanwhile, the family we started in Pittsburgh in 1953 has grown into five Kaufman households there, with more grandchildren and great-grandchildren every year. Our estate plan honors both threads of our story—preserving our family's history and ensuring the next generation has the resources to continue writing new chapters, wherever life takes them.

My husband grew up on the south side of Chicago, and I grew up in a small village in Scandinavia. Our love for family, culture, art, and travel brought us together. My husband bought a hundred-year-old house in Sweden the first time he came to visit my family to show his respect and our desire to always come back for visits. From the time our grandchildren were only a few years old we brought them back to Europe for a few months each summer. They were able to expand their knowledge of culture, languages, food but even more importantly, get to know an extended family and friends with different traditions, and maybe at times values. When my husband developed dementia, we had to sell our house in Scandinavia, but it is the family and friends that are of value, and they will be there when the grandchildren are ready to travel on their own. Our estate plan ensures our grandchildren will have the means to maintain these connections and continue exploring the world that shaped us.

My husband began traveling to Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks in the 1980s for surf fishing trips with colleagues from work. In the early 90s, we decided to make it our family's annual vacation destination. We fell in love with the island's quietness and the stunning ocean views right from the homes we rented. When our daughter began dating her now-husband in 2001, he joined us on these trips, and the tradition continued for years. In 2017, they purchased a rental property on the island, but they quickly realized they wanted more than an investment—they wanted to make Hatteras their home. They sold the rental, built a smaller house just for the two of them, and moved to the island in 2023. Our estate plan ensures they can continue building their life in this place we helped them discover and love. We hope that every time they watch the ocean, they feel us there with them.

My dad died on New Year's Day when I was six. He was 56, planning to retire the next year. My mom was left with three kids: my two older sisters and me. No life insurance, no will. She'd already left high school early to support her own mother when her father died. Now history was repeating itself. Basic planning would have let our family grieve instead of scramble. For years, I knew I needed my own plan but kept putting it off. Now my wife and I can watch our children raise their own families with peace of mind, knowing we've broken that cycle. Our grandchildren will inherit more than assets. They'll inherit the security we wish we'd had. It's how we say: even when we're gone, we thought about you.

My dad loved to travel. As an airline pilot, he delighted in coming home with new food experiences and tales of adventure when I was a kid. My mom’s shared sense of adventure combined with my dad’s flying touched each one of their children. I will be forever thankful for my eye-opening childhood. My children loved to listen to their pop’s flying stories. Those stories continue to inspire them to explore and be open to new experiences today. My dad planned his legacy for my mother’s security. But he passed along that legacy in story for generations to come. Now, like my dad, we’ve planned our legacy not just for our family’s security, but as a continuation of the values and spirit of adventure that will inspire them for generations to come.