Join the Founder's Visionary Circle
Big Apple Greeter's inheritance giving program was launched in 2018 when greeter Robert Ross offered an immediate $500 from the Janet Ross Foundation for every donor who pledged to give a gift to our organization in their will.
Big Apple Greeter was one of the first nonprofits to accept Bob's challenge.
Since 2018 his innovative approach to philanthropy has been taken up by 70 organizations including land conferences, animal welfare groups, New York City's American Museum of Natural History and Cambodian Living Arts. Bob's motivation lies in his desire to encourage people to solidly support their loved ones and provide for the causes dear to their hearts by writing, reviewing and updating wills.
He says: "Everyone knows of a person or family hurt – or even devastated – by the lack of estate planning. And it's usually the women who suffer." Through the challenges, Bob Ross has devised a way for donors to contribute immediately without personal cost and insure the future of both their families and their charities by writing wills.
BOB AND JANET AND BIG APPLE GREETER: A LOVE STORY
Here’s the beautiful story behind Inheritance Giving
Bob Ross became a Greeter in May 2017. He surprised us in July with his $1000 donation to the Macy’s Charity Challenge.
Little did we know his generosity to Big Apple Greeter was the wish of his late wife Janet.
After Janet’s inoperable brain tumor was discovered just eight years into their 42-year marriage, they promised each other to make donations to charitable organizations over time and at their deaths.
Bob was Janet’s sole caregiver for 34 years, so they had plenty of time to discuss the future. If he died first, Janet said she would put his ashes on the mantle and complain that he wasn’t around to be her gofer! If she died first, she wanted him to donate to causes like Big Apple Greeter.
Bob and Janet’s love for each other and for Big Apple Greeter is only equaled by the love Big Apple Greeter has for them.