"The Ultimate Gift" Film May Leave Legacy for Charitable Gifts

03/08/2007

The message of Leave a Legacy, is coming to the big screen-and your television-about the importance of leaving a bequest to charity, according to the Northwest Florida Planned Giving Council.

Leave a Legacy, an affiliate of the National Planned Giving Council announced Thursday its partnership with the "The Ultimate Gift," a film that brings the experience of legacy giving to life. The film, starring James Garner, Brian Dennehy and Abigail Breslin, opens around the country March 9.

"The Ultimate Gift really embraces the whole message of Leave a Legacy," said Jim Chitwood, Executive Director of the OWC Foundation and interim president of the local Planned Giving Council. "The message is that by taking a moment to prepare a will and considering bequests to charities that it is a legacy and a way to make a difference."

According to Tami Tarpley, NCPG Director of Strategic Initiatives, the organization worked with the film's producers to develop this partnership. "The film presents legacy giving in a way that goes beyond the facts and figures. It honors the emotions and motivations that inspire one to give-and the impact that generosity can have well beyond a single lifetime."

Tarpley said "The Ultimate Gift" follows a young man after he inherits a fortune from a wealthy, but distant grandfather. But there is a catch. Before he can receive the inheritance, the young man must prove he is a worthy enough individual for the gift. A series of challenges issued by his grandfather sends him on a soul-searching journey.

According to Chitwood, the Northwest Florida Planned Giving Council says the "national exposure from this film hopefully will enable others to at least entertain the idea of using their bequests to help charities and leave a lasting legacy in the process." He said the local council includes attorneys, CPAs, trust officers and non-profit directors who meet quarterly.

"The Ultimate Gift" will be released in 800 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. More information about the film can be found at www.theultimategift.com. A DVD of the movie will be released in the fall according to Tarpley.