Mike Brinkos
When I was going through school myself, I had gotten help and support from different grants and scholarships over the years. I knew how much it meant to me then, so I wanted to be able to do that for others.
When Mike Brinkos donated to ExtraGive, he was prompted with a question: “Are you interested in learning about legacy giving?” Mike clicked yes.
“That was something on my to-do list for this year,” Mike said. “I wanted to make sure that when I am no longer around, I’m able to use part of my estate to give back to others.”
As a mental health therapist, Mike dedicates himself to serving others. It’s a value he’s built his life around.
“I love being able to go into my job every day knowing that I get to help people,” Mike said. “I see people coming in wanting help and it’s a rewarding job to know that I get to have a positive impact on my clients’ lives.”
Mike felt that planning to establish a fund after his lifetime through the Lancaster County Community Foundation was another opportunity to further this commitment to caring for people. When the Philanthropic Services Team responded to Mike’s interest in legacy giving, they offered a variety ways people can shape the future of Lancaster County by setting up an endowed fund, a donor advised fund, or a scholarship fund. 
“They essentially laid out the menu of all the different choices,” Mike said. “They made it simple and easy to understand.”
As conversations continued, Mike planned to establish two funds—one to support students pursuing a career in the fields of psychology and social work, and another for those passionate about animal care and veterinary medicine.
“I have a passion for helping people and want to be able to help others who have the same passion and drive as I do.” Mike said. “I also have a soft spot for animals, having grown up with a dog and several cats.”
Mike’s inclination to give toward education is largely inspired by his dad, a civil engineer for the water department of Philadelphia.
“Education was very important to him,” Mike said. “I can say that I would not be in the position that I am in if it weren’t for the help and support of my dad with everything he did for me. He also instilled the desire for me to help people with their education.”
In addition to his education, Mike’s experience of loving and losing his beloved cat inspired him to support individuals pursuing animal care and veterinary medicine with their education. To that end, he established the Martin van Purrin Legacy Fund, a scholarship dedicated to supporting students in the field of animal care.
As a recipient of scholarship funds himself, Mike knew the relief that accompanied receiving financial support and wanted to pass that along to the next generation of leaders in spaces he cared about deeply.
“You don’t know the impact that the gift can have on people,” Mike said. “When I was going through school myself, I had gotten help and support from different grants and scholarships over the years. I knew how much it meant to me then, so I wanted to be able to do that for others.”
His plan to establish these funds through a legacy gift is in keeping with his fervent dedication to helping people, especially by offering support in areas that seem too heavy to hold alone. For Mike, committing to a legacy gift not only honors the people and pets that have shaped his life, but has instilled the belief that everyday people can be generous, regardless of their net worth.
“If establishing a fund is something that you have thought about… Act on it. It doesn’t matter how much you have,” Mike said. “You can’t take it with you, so you may as well make sure that the money is set aside and going to be used well after we’re no longer here.”
Learn more about giving through the Community Foundation here.
