Donor Stories-Hecht

Grateful Couple Says Thanks with a Charitable Gift Annuity

Elaine and Norm Hecht are both grateful patients whose lives were saved by surgeries performed by Northwell Health Foundation doctors. To express their appreciation, they established a charitable gift annuity in honor of cardiologist Dr. Steven Goldberg and the late Ronald Eisler, Elaine’s brother. The Hechts are one of many couples and individuals who have chosen to make a charitable gift that also provides an income stream.

A charitable gift annuity, like the one established by the Hechts, enables anyone 60+ years of age to make a gift of $10,000 or more and receive a fixed stream of payments for life. A significant portion of the income stream is tax-free for a number of years. Donors may claim a current charitable income tax deduction for a portion of their gift.

Norm earned a BA from CUNY Baruch and spent four years in the Air Force. He and Elaine established the Norman Hecht Research firm, a successful consulting company which assists the television medium with news and talent research and expert advice regarding Nielsen TV ratings.

Norm and Elaine have been married for 56 years. They have three grown children and five lucky grandchildren—lucky because (among other reasons) upon turning 10, each gets to travel to historic Williamsburg, and upon turning 16, each gets to travel to Paris or London with their grandparents.

The couple spends most of the year in Florida, but when they are on Long Island, they enjoy their membership in the Tam O’Shanter Golf Club. Previously, they lived in Sag Harbor and enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound.

In addition to Northwell Health, they support the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, and other worthy charitable organizations. They enjoy traveling with friends and family, reading, attending concerts at Tanglewood, and summer stock theater.