UAB - Planned Giving

Planned Giving

Lori Gearhart, D.M.D.

An Interview with Dr. Lori M. Gearhart

Why did you choose to make a gift of an insurance policy to the School of Dentistry?
Serving on the Executive Council helped me to understand the financial challenges our school faces each year, especially considering the recent cutbacks and economic changes. I have also helped raise money for the Alumni Association and have seen firsthand the effort this requires. I wanted to ensure that my contribution was established and easily managed. After much consideration, I learned that a life insurance gift is a great way to turn my charitable dollars into a substantial gift for the UAB School of Dentistry. Actually, it is a low-cost way to provide a large benefit. Also, Elizabeth Ponder, director of planned giving, explained the great tax benefits of this type of gift. Hopefully, this will be helpful to the future of the School of Dentistry.

Why is it important for alumni to give back?
The strength of our school lies in our members, both current students and alumni. The profession as a whole benefits from the quality of our education and training. Our commitment to maintaining that quality should be a priority for all of us.

You have been very involved in the Alumni Association. How have you been involved and why is it important that you help this particular organization?
I have served as a member of the Executive Council and chairperson of alumni weekend. Being a member of this council has afforded me the opportunity to work with other alumni in the state toward the common goal of keeping the organization a vital part of dentistry. The support our members receive from each other and the support we provide for the dental school serve as tools in the continued development of the profession.

What is your message to our younger alumni about being involved in organized dentistry?
As younger dentists begin their careers and move forward, it is natural to focus on their own practices and families. By having an organization that unites us, we have a strength that can facilitate change and provide support to our members. I believe that being a member of organized dentistry allows us to be much stronger as a profession. The more involvement from members and input we have, the more powerful and influential our voices are.

Talk a little bit about your family.
My family and I live in Monroeville, Ala. My husband, Andrew Gearhart (Class of '82), and I have two children. My son, Drew Gearhart, lives in Birmingham and is an agent for Mass Mutual. My daughter, Lindsey Gearhart, is a freshman at the University of South Carolina.

We have enjoyed practicing in Monroeville for more than 25 years. We've raised our family with a focus on the outdoors and a strong involvement with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. We all enjoy travel, cooking, and music.

The information in this website is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to income tax apply to federal taxes only. Federal estate tax, state income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.

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