Why I Chose to Make AHA Part of My Legacy: A Message for Fellow Supporters
June 10, 2025
For the past 14 years, C’Anne Cook has stood alongside AHA Foundation, supporting its mission to protect the rights of women and girls. As a committed annual donor, her support has deepened with time, leading her to make the extraordinary decision to include AHA in her will—and create a lasting legacy.
What inspired this decision? In her own words, C’Anne reflects on what drew her to AHA’s mission and why she chose to make that commitment part of her legacy. Her story is a powerful reminder of how one decision can help shape a better future for generations to come.
A Message from C’Anne to Fellow AHA Supporters
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a force to be reckoned with. I admire her passion and commitment to the complete emancipation of women and girls, breaking free of tyranny and the violation of their rights, often rooted in harmful traditional practices brought into the U.S. from other parts of the world. Even though we are in the “West” and guaranteed certain freedoms, those freedoms are often taken advantage of or not understood by newcomers to the U.S., leading to violations of women’s and girls’ rights in the name of free exercise and tradition.
“My gift is given from the heart, and my hope is that it offers support for AHA’s goals. AHA is an organization I am proud to be a part of. Over time, I have evolved from giving once a year, to giving once a year plus becoming a legacy donor.”
AHA seeks to clarify and codify laws that prohibit harmful practices, like FGM and forced marriage, when they are brought into the U.S. under the guise of tradition or culture. When individuals are unable to carry out these acts here due to legal protections, they sometimes travel abroad to enact the abuse in countries where such practices may still be tolerated. Through AHA’s efforts to educate and make these behaviors illegal, violators are held accountable. Bottom line, this is hard work. This takes dedication. This process can be slow and arduous.
The passion and dedication of AHA and its leadership are why I support AHA with my legacy gift. My commitment to the organization and its goals has only strengthened over time. As a Jewish woman, I fight antisemitism and have for years. My commitment, like Ayaan’s, is unwavering.
My gift is given from the heart, and my hope is that it offers support for AHA’s goals. AHA is an organization I am proud to be a part of. Over time, I have evolved from giving once a year, to giving once a year plus becoming a legacy donor.
“I give because I am thankful for the life I’ve had (the good and the painful). You may wonder if your donation is too small; no, because when we all come together with whatever we can contribute, it will make a BIG impact; because it’s all about the numbers.”
To those who have contemplated supporting AHA through a legacy gift, I say DO IT. Your gift offers more than financial support—it will bring joy to YOU, the donor, because now you are part of something important that is bigger than you. The amount you assign to AHA through your will or trust is not what matters; it is the art of giving.
I give because I am thankful for the life I’ve had (the good and the painful). You may wonder if your donation is too small; no, because when we all come together with whatever we can contribute, it will make a BIG impact; because it’s all about the numbers. For example, if 100 people each included a gift of just $1,000 in their will, while it might not seem like a big gift to any one person, in total that’s $100,000 to AHA to continue their critical work! Whatever you can do matters.