At Post-Polio Health International, our mission to support polio survivors and raise awareness of the late effects of polio is made possible by the incredible generosity of our donors. We are deeply grateful to those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our cause through significant bequests.
Celebrating Our Visionary Donors
Olive Nesbitt Brewster
Supporting polio survivors with a legacy of hope
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Nesbitt Brewster. Her thoughtful planning and generosity have ensured that we can continue our vital work, providing education, advocacy, and support to the post-polio community. Her legacy is a beacon of hope and care. Olive was born on July 19, 1924, in San Antonio, Texas. She was the daughter of Charles Henry and Olive Agatha (Nesbitt) Brewster. Upon graduating from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio in 1946, she went to work as a librarian for the United States Air Force, where she worked for over four decades until her retirement in 1988. A collection of historic family photographs, many taken by her, can be found today at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Olive was a longtime member of PHI and strong supporter of advancing the cause of polio survivors. She passed away in 2022 in San Antonio.
Morton & Yseult Freilicher
Empowering through generosity
PHI acknowledges a generous bequest from the estate of Morton & Yseult Freilicher. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Morton received his law degree from Columbia Law School as a Harlan Fiske Stone scholar eight years after he contracted polio at age 17, which left him with total paralysis in his right arm and partial paralysis in his left arm, neck and diaphragm.
During his professional career, specializing in trusts and estates, he was a partner in the New York-based law firm of Phillips Nizer LLP. He authored a book on estate planning and taught as an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School. After retirement, Freilicher donated his services to the work of the Edouard Foundation, which supports disaster relief, medical care and research and aid to the impoverished throughout the world.
His wife, Yseult, was a graduate of New York University and worked in business and publishing. She was a jazz enthusiast and an accomplished songwriter. She passed away in 2023 at the age of 84.
Join Our Community of Supporters
The support of donors like you makes our work possible. We invite you to join our community of compassionate supporters who are making a difference in the lives of polio survivors. Remembering PHI in your will is one of the most momentous and meaningful legacies you can provide because polio survivors are an often-forgotten group. They are still here and numerous. They still need reliable sources of medical help and hope. PHI is one of the very few organizations in the world that is laser-focused on addressing those important and often urgent needs.
Below are a few suggested donation types that can be given now during your lifetime or set up as a planned donation to Post-Polio Health International.
- Donations of Cash: This the simplest and easiest way for you to make a donation. You may receive a charitable tax deduction on your tax return.
- Donations of Stocks and Bonds: A donation of appreciated stocks and bonds. You could avoid capital gains taxes that would otherwise be due if you sold them directly. Contact us to facilitate.
- Donations from Retirement Accounts: If you have Traditional or Roth IRAs and are age 70 ½ or older, you may make a qualified charitable distribution directly from these IRAs without incurring any adverse federal income tax consequences. The distribution counts toward any Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), but is not included in calculating the individual taxpayer’s limitation on charitable deductions in the year the donation is made.
- Donations of Insurance Policies: This donation can be made outright for cash value, or by naming Post-Polio Health International as beneficiary.
Talk to your financial advisor or attorney about these and other ways to create a meaningful way to help Post-Polio Health International continue to fulfill its mission.
Thank You for Your Support!
To all of our donors, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your generosity is a lifeline to polio survivors and a crucial part of our mission to improve their quality of life. Together, we are making a lasting impact—thank you for standing with us in this important work.
Post-Polio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization – Tax ID 34-0961952