Donor Stories

Charitable Gift Annuity Proceeds Bless Addicted, Hungry, and Homeless Families

Addiction. Homelessness. Hunger. These are just a few causes that spurred Rev. Martha Forrest, and her late husband, Bob Forrest, to take action.

The Forrests were long-time supporters of Breakthru House and Action Ministries, which joined with HOPE Atlanta in 2021 to combat homelessness and provide hunger relief. Breakthru House transforms the lives of women and their children struggling with drug and alcohol addiction by providing a long-term residential program that empowers women through recovery.

Over time, Bob purchased charitable gift annuities with the Georgia United Methodist Foundation and received fixed-income payments for life. He named Breakthru House and HOPE Atlanta as beneficiaries of the remaining proceeds so his support could continue after his death.

"We will honor the Forrests' long-term support by providing excellent services to those women who need us the most and have no means to afford treatment and services," said BreNita Jackson, Breakthru House Executive Director. "Their gifts were life-changing and lifesaving to women who had little hope of gaining recovery."

Liz Liston, HOPE Atlanta Chief Development Officer, adds, "Nearly 10,000 individuals experience homelessness on a given night across Georgia, and one in six children are food insecure. Bob's gift will allow us to continue to provide critical housing, hunger relief, and support services to vulnerable individuals and families in need."