Why I’m donating my estate
Donor Relations Manager Kellie Flint sat down with volunteer and donor Patty Domay to find out how she fell in love with the desert and why she's decided to join MDLT's planned giving society, the Desert Stars.
We can do it! Volunteer and donor Patty Domay is a Desert Star.
KF: Thanks for talking with me today Patty! Tell us about yourself. How long have you lived in the desert and what brought you here?
PD: I've been out in Landers in a homestead cabin for 20 years. Before that, I lived in Santa Clarita. I used to race motorcycles in the desert and one of the guys I raced with moved out here to Flamingo Heights. At the time, I thought well I can't afford a house in Santa Clarita, so I had to find someplace else to hang my hat.
So then, how did you discover MDLT?
I also do birding and one of my birder friends is involved here. I may have heard about it from her, I'm not really sure. But I just love what you do. I love that you're saving our beautiful desert and the habitat for the bobcats and mountain lions and wonderful coyotes, and maybe a rogue bear from Burns Canyon that comes down.
Oh, that's so great. What motivates you to stay involved with our organization?
I started doing the seed cleaning here, and I love it! The people here are very interesting, they're intelligent, they're interested in the desert, the animals. They care about the desert. And for me, that's extremely important.
Why are you choosing to give to MDLT in your will?
See this is....I'm sorry. It's a little emotional for me. I want the desert saved. I want the animals to have a habitat. I want people to come out here and instead of just going to a bar and drinking, or you know, doing one hike one time, I want them to fall in love with the desert. People need to walk out here and look and see.
That's beautiful, Patty. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for trusting us with your legacy. What do you hope to accomplish through your philanthropic gifts to MDLT?
Keeping habitat intact, and being able to plant more seeds here, grow more things, and save portions of the desert. In its native state, it's really beautiful. I got to know the desert from racing motorcycles which really tore up a lot of things you know, now I look back and go "bad girl!" - it was fun, but it wasn't good for the land. We've got to teach people about their carbon footprint. You know how the desert and the plants absorb carbon - that's fascinating to me. And the beautiful dark skies! I built my own telescope, I used to use it but gave it away because I'll be 83 this year and it's getting a little heavy to lift around. ✨