Personal Giving Story: Gwen Cohen

Be financially savvy and responsible, and always find a way to give back.

Those are the values that longtime WTTW and WFMT supporter and volunteer Gwen Cohen learned from her ancestors and followed as a guiding light throughout her career as a Chicago wealth advisor.

“I’ve been deeply influenced by the wisdom of my great-grandmother, Ida, who strongly encouraged her daughters to shoulder the responsibility of making smart financial decisions for themselves and their families,” Gwen said. “That’s why I spent more than 30 years helping my clients apply these principles successfully in their own lives.”

Gwen also emphasizes how strategic financial planning gives women the freedom to support the causes they care about and leave the legacy they desire.

In addition to serving on the WTTW and WFMT Planned Giving Advisory Committee, Gwen is a member of the Newton N. Minow Founders Society, which honors the special group of individuals who have included WTTW and WFMT in their estate planning.

“WTTW and WFMT both serve as a trusted source for education that remains accessible for children of all ages, which reinforces the principles I grew up with and makes the world a better place,” Gwen said. “Including WTTW and WFMT in my estate plan helps support the programs that engage our communities and inspire exploration for generations to come. There is a synchronicity between my charitable planning and my great-grandmother’s lesson to find a way to give back to the good earth.”