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Spotlight: The Ruth E. Burkhardt Legacy Fund
“My philosophical leanings tell me that since humans domesticate animals, he is responsible for their well-being. Since humans are frequently irresponsible and even cruel, to support organizations that try to remediate this is an obligation on my part.”
Ruth Burkhardt grew up in Colorado with very modest means. In January 1930, she entered kindergarten at the same time the United States entered the Great Depression. Her parents’ work ethic and ingenuity left a lasting impression upon her and she applied the same diligence to her high school studies. In 1942, she left home to study Psychology at the University of California Los Angeles, which she later applied in her social work. Her thirst for knowledge and understanding led her to earn her Masters and PhD, which she put to practice as a School Psychologist in Iowa and then returned to California to practice in the San Bernardino Unified School District. She retired from her position of Supervisor of Psychological Services and spent a number of years delivering meals to the senior center and working at the animal shelter.
Throughout her years, Ruth traveled and explored the globe with a three-month trip to Europe, a 77-day around-the-world tour, and trips to South America, Australia, and New Zealand. A tented safari trip to Kenya that she saw in ZooNooz, plotted a course for her life that provided 20 years of wonderful experiences to new places, to enjoy wonderful people and fascinating animals. Africa was her first destination of choice. She roamed every region -- East, West, North, and South with 21 visits to 18 countries. But anyplace with animals to be seen, could be a destination for her exploratory soul. She observed Pup seals in Nova Scotia, Polar bears in Churchill, Brown bears in Alaska, Whales in Baja, Orangutans in Borneo, Penguins in Antarctica, Boobie birds in the Galapagos Islands, Mountain gorillas in Uganda, and Tasmanian Devils on the Australian Island.
Over the years Ruth Burkhardt generously supported a multitude of different organizations through membership and donations. She supported organizations that assisted veterans, seniors, educational services, social service, conservation, and animal welfare. Her focus has always been on animal welfare, both domesticated animals and wildlife. She holds a lifetime membership in several humane societies and is especially fond of cat organizations. Having personally visited the gorillas and the chimps in Uganda, she passionately and proudly supports the Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall organizations, and with 21 visits to Africa, the African Wildlife Federation is near and dear to her.
The Ruth E. Burkhardt Legacy Fund will provide habitat conservation and will support the Nature Conservancy and San Diego Zoo. Despite a modest income throughout her professional career, life income funds and charitable annuities allowed Ruth to give large amounts to her fund because of the income they generate for her now. She was able to established her fund to benefit a number of organizations in perpetuity since the value of the charitable annuities will go to her fund when her estate matures while providing income to her in her later years.