Elsie Upson

Women planning for tomorrow ... today!

Elsie Upson feels American Heart Association has always been part of her life. She lost her father to a heart attack when he was 56. Her mother suffered from angina. Elsie's sister had two bypass surgeries and her younger brother survived a heart attack in his 40s. And Upson has high blood pressure.

Upson credits American Heart Association-funded research for saving lives and wishes that information today was available for her father. "Had we known then what we know now, I'm sure my father would have lived longer," she said.

Her family history of heart disease and a firm belief in the benefits of research made supporting the American Heart Association an easy decision for her. "Even my oldest cat, Sweetie, has benefited from heart research," said Upson, whose pet receives high blood pressure medication.

Upson helps others who have heart disease, and has also made a bequest to the American Heart Association. A donor makes a bequest by leaving assets to charity through a will. The donor's estate will receive a charitable estate tax deduction at the donor's death, when the gift is made to charity. "The American Heart Association is a worthwhile organization, and I advise women, especially, to help in any way they can," Upson said.

A new American Heart Association brochure, Planning for Women, explains why every woman needs an estate plan, regardless of the estate size, or whether she is the head of a household or has no dependents.

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