A Gift That Transformed Lives
Karen Howitt never sought the spotlight. She simply believed in the power of art, the beauty of opera, and the responsibility we all share to help our neighbors. She spent much of her life as a creator — through painting, through music, and through the quiet generosity that would leave a lasting mark on New York City.
For Karen, giving wasn’t about recognition — it was about impact. She first learned about Robin Hood more than 20 years before she passed, drawn to its promise of using every dollar to fight poverty without waste. Her contributions started modestly, as so many do. But as time passed, she saw the change her gifts were making across NYC, and she began to think beyond her lifetime.
Riding the subway, Karen often sketched the faces of fellow New Yorkers. Their expressions, their stories, their struggles — they became reflections of the city she loved. She wanted her giving to endure and to continue uplifting the lives of those she encountered in passing.
So, she made a plan.
Karen informed Robin Hood that she intended to leave a bequest — an act of generosity that would echo long after she was gone. In turn, Robin Hood welcomed her further into its community, inviting her to see, firsthand, the impact of her giving: children receiving a quality education, families finding stable housing, communities breaking free from the cycle of poverty. She realized then that her legacy was more than a donation — her legacy was a future.
So, when the time came, Karen’s planned gift was 500 times larger than her annual giving.
Today, her generosity lives on in classrooms, in shelters, in job training programs — in the very heartbeat of the city. Her story reminds us that legacy giving isn’t just for the wealthy — it’s for anyone who believes in making a difference.
It starts with a decision: to extend your impact, to uplift others, to leave the world better than when you found it. And it ends with thousands of lives changed.
Karen’s gift was transformational. Yours can be, too.
No matter the size, a planned gift to Robin Hood ensures that your compassion, your values, and your love for New York will carry on for generations.
