Caring Relationships - Gundersen Health System

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Don shares a memory of Betty Ann with Robyn Tanke, CFRE, senior director of development of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. “Betty Ann would be so delighted with what Don has done.” To learn more about the benefits of charitable gift annuities, visit gundluth.org/ foundation and read the four easy steps every donor should consider. Creating a CGA can be a highly effective strategy for supporting the work of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation while realizing your own philanthropic goals and objectives. Together, they were strong supporters of the Shriners, of which Don is a longtime member. For years they traveled throughout the United States and Canada where Don performed with the Zor Oriental Band, raising funds for Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and Shriners Burn Centers of North America. By 1994, Don and Betty Ann’s charitable interests included Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. “Betty Ann saw it as a good organization that helps a lot of people,” recalls Don. “We’d always been givers to different organizations, but she thought more of the Foundation than anything.” The MacPhetridge’s high regard for the work of the Foundation is evident in their remarkable giving history. Over the course of nearly 15 years, they made over 200 separate gifts—approximately 13 each year, or a gift a month. Many have been in the form of memorials for friends and loved ones, or in honor of a special physician or caregiver. Their annual Heritage gifts were frequently designated for a cause they cared deeply about: research, specifically cancer research; hospice care; and the Paula’s Purse fund that assists cancer patients. Betty Ann’s eight-year battle with breast cancer and Don’s own cancer diagnosis increased their awareness of the disease and their commitment to help others fight it by advancing the Foundation’s efforts. Earlier this year, Don began discussions with Robyn Tanke, senior director of development, regarding a major gift in Betty Ann’s memory. He wanted to give something back in gratitude to the hospice program that had provided such extraordinary care at the end of Betty Ann’s life. In addition, Don’s greatest wish was to see Betty Ann recognized as the person who had inspired him, and so many others, through her lifelong gift for giving. With Don’s input, Robyn developed the framework for a charitable gift annuity (CGA) that would allow him to transfer stock as a gift to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, and receive in return a fixed annual payment for the remainder of his life. The CGA plan appealed to Don for a number of reasons. The rate of return was far more favorable than current interest rates on CDs, and receiving a guaranteed life income was also attractive. But by far the deciding factor was knowing how much it would have pleased Betty Ann. “I feel great to be honoring one of her last requests—and that is to continue to help the Foundation. If I’m helping somebody, that’s all I care about,” says Don. Having known Betty Ann personally, Robyn agrees that “she would be so delighted with what Don has done. She was as exuberant as she was giving. It really is a win-win.” Helping and comforting others was Betty Ann MacPhetridge’s essential nature. Don smiles at a memory of her from the day before she passed away when, despite being in pain and confined to a wheelchair, she took such joy in playing Christmas songs on the piano at the nursing home to lift everyone’s holiday spirits. That was his Betty Ann. 4 www.gundluth.org/foundation
Special GIVING My IRA is helping others this holiday season! Your IRA just got a whole lot better. If you or someone you know is 70 1 ⁄2 or older and owns an individual retirement account (IRA), we have good news. Instead of receiving your distribution and then writing checks to your favorite charities this season, consider giving directly from your IRA. If you do, you could take advantage of benefits like these: • your gift still counts toward your required minimum distribution (RMD) • the contribution to charity is not taxable income to you like your RMD would normally be • you receive tax benefits for your charitable gift, even if you don’t itemize your deductions To learn more about how this recently extended legislation might benefit you now and in the new year, call Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation today. 1836 South Avenue, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 (608) 775-6600 or (800) 362-9567, ext. 56600 www.gundluth.org/foundation Pathfinders Year-End 2008 5
Page 1 and 2: Year-End 2008 A publication of Gund
Page 3: A Legacy of Love Betty Ann MacPhetr
Page 7 and 8: Summer Research Fellowships Advance
Page 9 and 10: “I am alive today because of the
Page 11 and 12: Betty and Jon Kabara take the podiu
Page 13 and 14: members of the community, familiar
Page 15 and 16: Commemorative Gifts In honor of 1st
Page 17 and 18: In honor of Brian M. Sieck, MD Judi
Page 19 and 20: In memory of George P. Caffrey Gund
Page 21 and 22: In memory of Linda W. Hass Barb Sun
Page 23 and 24: In memory of Marvin M. Lee Connie L
Page 25 and 26: In memory of Ethel M. Peterson Caro
Page 27 and 28: Marabeth Leum Lori Oesterle Mr. & M
Page 29 and 30: Platinum Sponsor Pepsi-Cola Bottlin
Page 31 and 32: A New Online Portal for Gundersen L

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