Bonnie Plunkett

Bonnie Plunkett at Habitat Philadelphia’s inaugural Construction Sprint in West Philly | photo by Cary Porter

Bonnie, a fervent supporter of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, joined us for the inaugural Construction Sprint at our new home construction site, Rosalynn’s Way, in West Philadelphia. We caught up with Bonnie during the kick-off Women Build volunteer day on site as she shared about her journey with Habitat Philadelphia.

Habitat: Can you introduce yourself and your relationships with Habitat Philadelphia?

Bonnie: My name is Bonnie Plunkett, and I am a donor and volunteer supporter of Habitat Philadelphia. Having given annually for many years, I more recently became part of the Wilt Street Legacy Society. Then after attending the Building Hope Luncheon this spring and meeting homeowners/program beneficiaries, I was inspired to become more involved. The September Women’s Build Month afforded me the opportunity to become a hands-on volunteer.

Habitat: What’s the Wilt Street Legacy Society and how did you hear about it?

Bonnie: The Wilt Street Legacy Society is a vehicle for donors to leave a large legacy gift to Habitat Philadelphia, achieved through planned giving, wills/estate planning, insurance policies and other vehicles. The Society is crucial to ensuring long-term solutions to Philadelphia’s affordable housing needs.

I became involved because of the challenge established by long-time friends Peter and Kathy Davis. After I inadvertently came across a press release about their generous $1 million bequest and establishment of the Legacy Match Program, I immediately called Peter. First to recognize their generosity and congratulate them and secondly to obtain more information on how to join their challenge. Having given to Habitat annually for numerous years, supporting their efforts was a no brainer. Peter put me in touch with Kathryn Fernandez, and the rest is history. I thank Peter and Kathy for their extraordinary gift and inspiring me to become a Legacy Society member.

Bonnie Plunkett at the 15th annual Building Hope Luncheon in 2024 | photo by Cary Porter

Habitat: What made you think Habitat was a good fit for your legacy giving?

Bonnie: First, since I have been a regular annual contributor, it just made sense for me to consider Habitat’s legacy giving. Second, since I don’t have children, I have greater capacity for donations/legacy beyond family. Therefore, joining Legacy, and helping ensure success of my friends’ challenge, was a great opportunity to continue ongoing success and longevity of Habitat Philadelphia’s housing program. I firmly believe safe, affordable housing should not be a privilege, but instead a right.

Habitat: Why do you think many people do not consider legacy giving?

Bonnie: Generally, people are often reluctant to think about or plan for their demise. Often, when they do plan, priority is on family/legacy for their children or grandchildren. More likely than not, they simply aren’t approached by an organization for planned giving or inclusion in their will. Also, a legacy gift might not be considered because of a common misconception that planned giving/estate planning requires significant wealth. And often people overlook the possibility of donating a life insurance policy or other assets in this manner or don’t realize the option exists. Therefore Habitat needs to be proactive in reaching out and educating supporters on the tremendous value of planned giving. I maintain that safe affordable housing shouldn’t be a privilege, but instead a right of every person and every family. I feel strongly about this and is why I advocate supporting Legacy Giving, a crucial element in ensuring perpetuity of Habitat Philadelphia’s mission.

Habitat: You’re generous with your time, talent, and treasure for other causes as well. Tell us about that?

Bonnie: I’ve volunteered my entire life in numerous Board capacities. More recently I elected for more hands-on volunteering at a Philadelphia women’s shelter where female residents are government-supported and often raising several children. These women are taken in with strict guidelines in exchange for lifestyle training/skills to help elevate their lives. I provided career counseling to help these women understand their value, acquire requisite skills for finding a job and rebuild their lives to live independently. I worked with them on basic job market skills, resume building, understanding their strengths and improvement needs, mock interviews, and how to dress/present themselves. My greatest success was a woman with three young children who possessed a strong determination to get out of the welfare system. I spent countless hours with her; she eventually found a great job all on her own, enrolled in college, earned her degree, and now has a promising career and is a homeowner.

Habitat more recently became my next volunteer mission to complement my financial commitment. To me, Habitat’s mission to ensure everyone has a safe place to live is akin to my efforts with the women’s shelter. I think of my home as my sanctuary, am fortunate to have a safe wonderful place to live but have never taken my good fortune for granted.

We all need to be more cognizant of the importance that every family be able to raise their children in a safe nurturing environment. A place to cultivate and lift their spirits. A place where kids can envision a positive outcome. Kids like Avery, the young man who grew up in a Habitat home and is now studying to be a lawyer. He had felt unsure about his future until his family’s move to a Habitat home; a home in a safe neighborhood and a safe environment that changed everything, putting him on a very different but positive trajectory. Hearing his story during Habitat’s Spring luncheon reduced me to tears, as I noticed it also did to those around me. As he finished his very touching story, that is when the light bulb went on.

Habitat homeowner Karen and son, Avery Martinez | photo by Habitat Philadelphia

Habitat: What did that light bulb moment mean to you?

Bonnie: It motivated me to seek out volunteer opportunities with Habitat. And it reinforced the idea that my time, in addition to my financial contributions, might just help create the environment for many more success stories like Avery’s. What can be a better legacy, than in volunteering or donating to Habitat, so no kid feels unsafe in their own home or unsure about their future. That’s when I said, “that is exactly what I am going to do… help make a difference and maybe enable more positive outcomes.”

Habitat: What about supporting Habitat Philadelphia through a planned gift and participation in the Wilt Street Legacy Society makes you feel like you can have the impact you desire to have on the organization?

Bonnie: First and most important, I feel that anyone who can give, should! Giving back to the community was instilled in me from childhood. I was always told, “It is not the amount that is important, but always the thought and to give to one’s ability, whether it is $5, $50, or $500,000.” I am unwavering in my belief that we all have an obligation to support our communities in whatever capacity we are able.

Joining the Wilt Street Legacy Society was a tremendous opportunity for me; a way to leave a significant amount of money to help ensure Habitat’s mission far into the future. My desire is to motivate others to support the Legacy Society, whether through a gift of securities, an insurance policy, or other planned giving vehicles; all are necessary options to help ensure the safety and comfort of Philadelphia area families for many years to come. I hope many others realize the significance of Legacy Giving and the belief that affordable and secure housing should be a right, not a privilege. May my experience inspire them in the way Peter and Kathy inspired me.

Learn more about how you can make a legacy gift by visiting our page on the Wilt Street Legacy Society.