DALLAS - February 19, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - More than 80% of people in the U.S. recognize the importance of estate planning, but less an a third have a will or trust, according to a 2025 Trust & Will Estate Planning Report.[1] To close this gap, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, invites donors of any age to join a free estate planning webinar focused on revocable living trusts and charitable remainder unitrusts. The one-hour webinar will take place on Thursday, February 26, at 2 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Central/11 a.m. Pacific. Attendees will hear real-life examples to help explain how trusts are structured and used.

“Estate planning can be overwhelming without proper guidance. Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a legacy that protects their money and their generosity,” said Lee Shapiro, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association and managing partner and co-founder at 7wireVentures, an investment firm headquartered in Chicago. “This webinar will make it easier to understand by using plain language and practical examples so people can feel comfortable taking the next step in their estate planning process.”

The free webinar will feature guest experts in wealth management, estate law and trust administration, including Clare Ceplecha, JD, CFTA, Mary Alfred, JD and Samuel M. DiPietro.

The session will:

• Introduce the definition of trusts
• Explain how trusts are created and maintained
• Share the rules of simple and complex trusts
• Detail how trusts can be useful in charitable giving

Participants will receive free resources about charitable trusts and revocable living trusts upon registration.

Planned giving is a powerful way to create lasting impact and support the causes that matter most. Donations contributed from planned gifts allow the Heart Association to support the organization’s 2028 Impact Goal that will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy and care for healthier people and communities. American Heart Association donors who choose to give a legacy gift through charitable financial planning are recognized for their leadership as members of the Paul Dudley White Legacy Circle, a designation within the Cor Vitae Society, named in tribute to one of the Association’s visionary founders and a pioneer of preventive cardiology.

Legacy gifts are vital to sustain the American Heart Association’s role as the nation’s leading non-governmental funder of cardiovascular research, with more than $5.9 billion invested in scientific discovery since 1949. This generosity is what fuels lifesaving research and education, helping people everywhere live longer, healthier lives for generations to come.

Register at heart.org/plan to attend the free webinar. Advanced online registration is required.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Erin Montie: erin.montie@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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