Trellis board member Adeel Lari is a natural connector. When he first arrived in Minnesota in the 1970’s, he noticed little support was available for the growing South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. A lifelong advocate, Adeel helped establish a foundation for the Asian American community in Minnesota, playing a key role in forming the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and serving as its chair for many years.
Through this work, he connected with cultural and community organizations, many of which now partner with Trellis. It was only after joining the Trellis board of directors that Adeel fully realized how deeply interconnected these efforts were—and how Trellis was supporting many of the very organizations he had long championed. “Suddenly one thing leads to another and you get to know a lot of people in the community.”
As a board member, he helps propel Trellis’ mission and vision forward so everyone has opportunities to thrive as we age. “The impact of Trellis is what keeps me connected,” he says. “We need an organization that is addressing older adult and caregiving issues, especially in underrepresented communities.”
His motivation is clear: ensuring older adults—especially those in BIPOC communities—are not left behind. “Refugee and immigrant communities in Minnesota aren’t getting any younger. They don’t always have the infrastructure others do,” Adeel explains. “We need to keep advocating, educating, and showing up.”
“It’s a win-win. QCDs allow me to give more to the causes I care about and avoid extra tax costs.”
-Adeel Lari
As a donor, Adeel chooses to give through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—a smart, tax-advantaged way of giving from retirement funds. A QCD allows individuals aged 70½ or older to make a tax-free gift from their IRA to a qualified charity. For those 73 or older, this gift can satisfy part or all of their required minimum distribution (RMD) requirement. The benefit is that the QCD doesn’t get included in taxable income, potentially reducing tax obligations and having an impact on Medicare premiums. “It’s a win-win,” says Adeel. “QCDs allow me to give more to the causes I care about and avoid extra tax costs.”
Looking to the future, Adeel is energized by Trellis’ growing voice in public policy and its commitment to supporting community-based partners. “The older adult population keeps increasing, and the issues we face as a community are not going to disappear. In this environment, it is more important than ever to speak on behalf of older adults and caregivers.”
For more information about giving to Trellis through a Qualified Charitable Distribution like Adeel, contact Development Director Martin Wera at mwera@trellisconnects.org or talk with your financial advisor or tax professional.
