Ron and Carol Bentsen: Reaching Out a Helping Hand

No one is able to volunteer at all of LSSI’s 50 sites across Illinois, but Ron and Carol Bentsen of Arlington Heights say that, by supporting the organization philanthropically through regular donations and gift annuities, they feel like they can.

“It made a lot of sense,” Carol said. “We think so much of LSSI, and the gift annuity sounds like a good deal for both us and the organization.” She described their gift annuities as a wonderful way for their money to have a positive impact after she and Ron have no more use for it.

The Bentsens support LSSI because it provides a means for them to make a positive impact in people’s lives. They are not able to physically go and help children in foster care or individuals who have been incarcerated, but LSSI can; so their generous support of LSSI is their way of reaching out a helping hand.

“I think LSSI is one of the best—maybe the best—organization to donate to,” Carol exclaimed. “They just do so much good! And they do it as economically as possible. They don’t waste money; they use all of their resources to help people.”

The Bentsens originally learned about LSSI through their church, when LSSI staff visited to present about the organization’s programs and mission. Carol encourages others to listen to these presentations, to pay attention, to do research, and to learn more about what LSSI does and the positive change the organization causes in people’s lives.

“We enjoy the feeling that our money is doing good work,” Carol said. “And we’ve enjoyed working and talking with everyone from LSSI.”