Janice Benzenhoefer cared.

A lifelong Spanish teacher, she was often greeted by “Hola Señorita Benzenhoefer!” in restaurants, grocery stores, and on the sidewalk by for­mer CMS and Charlotte Country Day School students. She remembered each one.

Her younger brother David Ham­ley recalls growing up together near Pittsburgh. The family learned early about taking care of one another, as their father lived with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and passed away when David was a teen. Jan’s husband Albert became a mentor to David, teaching him to wax a car and tie a necktie.

Janice and Al moved to Charlotte fifty years ago. When Al developed Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia, they found their way to MMC.

“Janice deeply appreciated every­thing MMC did for them both. The staff and doctors dealt with Al’s condition, but they also made sure Janice had the support she needed, even after Al passed away,” David remembers.

In March, Janice was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and she asked David to help with her estate planning. She wanted to include a do­nation to MMC.

Because Janice had several tax-de­ferred assets – including her pension and 401(k) – David suggested she name MMC and other organizations she chose to support as designated benefi­ciaries of these assets. Upon her death the designated funds were sent to each nonprofit without any probate require­ments or tax implications.

“When you have a good experience with an organization like Memory & Movement Charlotte and you have the ability to leave a gift, you do it,” David explains. “I wasn’t surprised. She cared about MMC because the people there cared about her family. Caring is her legacy.”