Planning with Purpose: Wills and Living Trusts

Sanctuary for Families

Estate planning is more than a legal task—it’s a powerful way to reflect your values, protect your loved ones, and support causes close to your heart.

At Sanctuary for Families, we believe estate planning is more than a legal task — it’s a powerful way to reflect your values, protect your loved ones, and support causes close to your heart. As we kick off our planned giving series, we’re starting with two essential tools: wills and living trusts.

What’s the Difference?

A will lets you outline how your assets should be distributed after your passing. You can name beneficiaries, appoint guardians, and designate an executor. However, wills typically go through probate—a court process that can be time-consuming and public.

A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and distributes them according to your wishes when you pass. Trusts generally avoid probate, allowing for quicker, more private distribution. They can also provide asset management if you become incapacitated.

Why Include Sanctuary?

Naming Sanctuary for Families in your will or living trust is a meaningful way to support survivors of gender violence beyond your lifetime. By designating a specific amount, percentage, or the remainder of your estate, you help ensure our life-saving work continues for generations.

Planned gifts can also offer tax benefits and allow you to make a lasting impact without affecting your current finances. No matter which path you choose, your legacy will reflect a deep commitment to justice, safety, and empowerment.

Getting Started

Estate planning can seem daunting, but guidance is available. An estate attorney can help you choose the best approach, and Sanctuary offers resources to align your giving with your values.

To learn more about how your legacy can support survivors and promote change, visit our planned giving website.

This article is part of our ongoing series on planned giving options. Stay tuned for future installments exploring beneficiary designations, charitable trusts, and more.

Remembering Burt Tansky: A Champion of Sanctuary and a Legacy of Excellence

Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary honors the life and legacy of Burt Tansky, a visionary leader in luxury retail and a devoted advocate for philanthropy, who passed away on March 16, 2025.

Sanctuary honors the life and legacy of Burt Tansky, a visionary leader in luxury retail and a devoted advocate for philanthropy, who passed away on March 16, 2025. His generosity and unwavering support of Sanctuary strengthened our mission in meaningful ways, profoundly impacting the lives of survivors.

Born to immigrant parents in Pittsburgh, PA, Burt graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and rose from the stockrooms of Kaufmann’s to the executive suites of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and ultimately, as President and CEO of the Neiman Marcus Group. His leadership earned him some of the industry’s highest honors, including the Gold Medal Award from the National Retail Federation, recognition from the CFDA, and the Legend of Luxury Award.

Beyond retail, Burt was deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting causes such as Jupiter Hospital, Temple Judea, The Kind Kitchen, FAU Honors Program, The University of Pittsburgh, and many others.

His generosity extended to Sanctuary, where his contributions reflected his deep commitment to supporting survivors of gender violence.

In recognition of Burt’s commitment to our work, Sanctuary honored him and his wife, Rita, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit in 2014. Burt took great pride in his deep connection with Sanctuary and introduced many new friends to the organization—many of whom continue to support our mission to this day.

Burt was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Despite the demands of his remarkable career, he never lost sight of what mattered most—love, connection, and community.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Rita; children Hyla (Eric) Weiss and Michael (Ellen) Tansky; grandchildren Emily, Coby, and Sascha; sister Eva Blum (Norman Wolmark); and countless loved ones.

Burt’s impact on fashion and philanthropy will be felt for generations. Sanctuary is deeply grateful to have been touched by his compassion, vision, and generous spirit.

Molly Gochman, 2025 Zero Tolerance Honoree

Sanctuary for Families

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to artist and activist Molly Gochman.

INTRODUCING MOLLY

Molly Gochman, an artist and activist deeply engaged in social practice, focuses on activating spaces for profound collective experiences. Her practice encompasses a diverse range of mediums including photography, sound, installation, and sculpture. Through these mediums, she often challenges and subverts conventional material boundaries to foster interaction, play, exploration, and meaningful dialogue.

In addition to her art practice, Molly’s commitment to creating a more just and equitable world led her to found Stardust—an organization encompassing philanthropy and impact investments. Through Stardust, she supports movements focused on care, strengthens community ecosystems, and prioritizes lived experience leadership through collaborative partnerships. Molly seamlessly weaves her artistic practice with Stardust’s philanthropic and investment strategies, driving positive change.

Molly has elevated Sanctuary’s mission since 2014 through both investment and advocacy. She has participated in meal preparation and sharing with survivors of sex trafficking, provided exercise equipment for clients who use running as a trauma coping strategy, and enabled the growth of Sanctuary’s future leaders through financial support and mentorship. Additionally, she has donated photographs from her international activist artwork, Red Sand Project, which sheds light on the vulnerabilities that contribute to exploitation.

Molly received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Guilford College. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Board of the Freedom Fund and sits on the board of Wassaic Project. She is a member of the Brooklyn Museum’s Council for Feminist Art and the New Museum’s Artemis Council. Her previous board service includes Creative Time, Aurora Picture Show, Children’s Rights, and the Orange Show Foundation. Originally from Texas, Molly is currently based in New York.

Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Molly and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.

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Katharine Bieber Ogg, 2025 Zero Tolerance Honoree

Sanctuary for Families

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence.

Every year, at our Zero Tolerance Benefit, Sanctuary for Families honors those who have significantly contributed to the movement to end gender-based violence. This year, we are thrilled to present the 2025 Zero Tolerance Award to Katharine Bieber Ogg, Vice President & Secretary of Sanctuary Board of Directors.

INTRODUCING KATE

Katharine Bieber Ogg is a non-practicing attorney and a longtime champion of Sanctuary’s work.

For over 20 years Kate has brought compassion, energy, and wisdom to all that she does on behalf of survivors. She first got involved as a law school student in 2003 through Sanctuary’s Courtroom Advocates Project, an initiative that connects survivors with trained law school advocates who assist with the filing of family offense petitions.  Since 2009, she participated in Sanctuary’s Adopt-a-Family program, providing holiday gifts directly to Sanctuary’s neediest clients.  In 2014, she became a volunteer in Sanctuary’s Development Department, traveling to their office twice weekly to help organize events, do research, and thank supporters. To recognize her amazing contributions, she was honored at Sanctuary’s 2016 Pillars of Change volunteer event.

In 2016, Kate joined Sanctuary’s Board of Directors and quickly became a leader, serving as a Vice President and the Secretary of the Board.  She also served on multiple committees, including the Development Committee (as co-chair for five years), the Nominating Committee (as co-chair for three years), and the Executive Committee.  She has traveled to Albany to join our advocacy efforts and participated in countless Family Council events. Kate brings her passion and commitment to Sanctuary’s mission to all that she does.

Kate received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and was admitted to the bar in both New York and Connecticut, working in the area of family law before leaving practice. She lives with her husband, Ryan, and their three children in Brooklyn.

Join us for our Zero Tolerance Benefit on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to honor survivors of gender violence and pay tribute to Kate and three fellow inspirational leaders in this work.

LEARN MORE & GET TICKETS