20 Fox Focus | Planned Giving
Securing a Future for Family and Parkinson ’ s Research
Above : Shyam and Nalini Parikh are dedicated donors toward a cure through our planned giving program . Right : The Parikhs share a family moment .
PHOTOS BY BRIAN NEVINS
For Shyam and his wife Nalini Parikh , of West New York , New Jersey , a trip to India revealed the symptoms of a disease Shyam was already familiar with . Both his uncle and brother had been living with Parkinson ’ s , but he never thought it could happen to him .
Nalini remembers , “ Shyam was trying to sign some papers . At the time , his signature was so small , but now it looked like ants crawling on a paper . And through the whole trip , he kept complaining that he had difficulty sleeping .” But it was his son ’ s words that resonated with Shyam when he stepped off the plane , back in the United States . “ Papa , something is wrong . Your hands are shaking too much .”
After encouragement from his family , he went for a first and second opinion with neurologists . Shyam was diagnosed with Parkinson ’ s disease at age 72 .
After a time of questions and uncertainty , he turned his attention to educating himself about research and navigating the disease . Shyam knew The Michael J . Fox Foundation ( MJFF ) by name — in fact , he had given donations in honor of his uncle 15 years prior . But he wanted to learn and do more . The more he read about Parkinson ’ s and the Foundation , the more he realized he wanted to share his investments with an organization that was on the forefront of research .
A Giving Spirit
“ After my diagnosis , I was going to give an outright donation . But then the idea of a charitable gift annuity came from my tax accountant ,” said Shyam . “ He told me , ‘ why do you want to just give a donation ? An annuity to a charitable organization can benefit you .’”
Charitable gift annuities are a popular investment choice for their relative simplicity and their immediate benefits . For Shyam