HOME | YEAR IN REVIEW | MAHALO
Rick Fried ensures a legacy of wishes through planned giving
Co-founder of Honolulu-based personal injury law firm Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks, Rick Fried has made an indelible impact on the Hawaii community for the past 55 years, not only as one of the state’s most accomplished attorneys but as a dedicated local leader and philanthropist. He has served on the boards of numerous local organizations, including the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Theatre Center, Hawaii Innocence Project, and Shriners Children’s Hawaii.
In October 2019, Rick brought his talents to Make-A-Wish Hawaii’s Board of Directors and has been committed to making a difference in the lives of local keiki fighting critical illnesses ever since. In addition to leading our organization as an executive committee member, graciously opening his home for Anela’s Frozen wish come true, recruiting new board members, and generously supporting events like our annual Wish! Gala, Rick recently included Make-A-Wish Hawaii in his estate through a planned gift that will ensure a legacy of lives forever changed.
“It’s really not done with the thought of any recognition, but with the hope that even after I’m not around, I can help some good things happen for children with critical illnesses,” he says. “I am privileged to have had a successful career, and I’ve chosen Make-A-Wish Hawaii as one of the ways I can help those in need, particularly children.”
As both a board member and donor, Rick recognizes the importance of looking ahead. While there may be 137 local keiki waiting for their wishes right now that require funding, he says, the ability to plan for wishes not yet in our pipeline is vital to our ability to continue changing lives.
And just as planned gifts like Rick’s have a lasting impact, so too do the wishes they grant, with many former wish children pointing to their wishes not only as fond memories but as turning points in their medical journeys that continue to give them hope and strength many years later.
Making a planned gift with such an impact is simple, explains Rick: “Including a charity in your will and trust is rather easy, and the advantage of doing it with an incredible 501(c)(3) nonprofit like Make-A-Wish Hawaii is that it’s totally tax deductible.”
For those who may be unable to make a planned gift, Rick encourages other avenues of giving back, such as through monthly donations of any size or through the gift of time as a volunteer.
“It’s wonderful for the individual who is either giving money or volunteering to see how beneficial it is when the kids get their wishes granted,” he says. “Just to see the way they light up and forget for a while about their medical journeys is really very moving. The Make-A-Wish Hawaii mission is one of the most noble charitable endeavors of all.”
To learn more about leaving a legacy of wishes with Make-A-Wish Hawaii, please contact Madalyn Kenney at [email protected] or visit hawaii.wish.org.
