Goshen Hospital and Health Care Foundation, Inc. Your Health Care Advocate for Over 42 Years
FOCUS ON GIVING A Newsletter for the Greater Goshen Area
Spring 2010
View from a Tow Truck on CR 17 By Lynette Mischel, Executive Director
Volume 4 Issue 1
In this issue View From a Tow Truck on CR 17 Finding HOPE for Those Unable to Pay Exciting New Giving Options The New Heritage Society Save the Date! Gala for Goshen Health June 10, 2011 Life in Three Parts Part 3-Treat the Whole PersonNot Just the Disease Making the Most of Life Your Generosity Offers Benefits to Hospice Patients New Giving Levels and Benefits Caring Club Sustainer and Annual Fund Giving
1926 W. Lincoln Ave., Suite A, Goshen, IN 46526 574-533-4500 www.givetogoshen.org
One morning this winter, the weather was so bad that my husband insisted I take his new car. It was less than 20 degrees outside with heavy blowing snow. As I came through the toll booth off I80/90 my car’s engine red-lined while I forced it through the light onto CR 17. The car died to a simultaneous fireworks display on the dash. An hour and a half later I wondered what motivated me to commute 40 minutes each way every day. My answer came after I pulled myself way up in the tow truck to wait for someone from the office to “save me.” I felt vulnerable, dependent and helpless and I didn’t like it one bit. After loading my car onto his flatbed, the tow truck driver joined me while we waited for my ride. “So where do you work?” he asked me. “At the Goshen Hospital and Health Care Foundation,” I replied…“Well what do you do?”… “We just ran a fundraiser in December for uninsured children”…“I have 4 of those,” he said…and then I knew why I was there. continued on page 2
Finding HOPE for those Unable to Pay Ever since its founding in 1969, The Goshen Hospital and Health Care Foundation has been determined to help for people in our communities get the care Goshen Health they need. Estimates show nearly 17% of Elkhart County residents are uninsured today. Since the State of Indiana recently closed the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) to those who do not have dependents, more assistance is needed to meet the increased demand. Here are some of the ways The To learn how you can support Foundation continues to fight these “health Project HOPE, see page 3 for the care gap” battles to assist patients with June 10, 2011 Gala for Goshen critical needs. Health announcement.
continued on page 3
Tow Truck continued “What do you do when your children get sick?” “We have been lucky, no one has gotten really sick yet.” All of us want to ensure that the excellent health care offered today for greater Goshen area residents will be available in perpetuity for our children, “And what do you do when one of them has a high fever that lasts?” grandchildren and community. The Goshen Hospital and Health Care “We use home remedies.” “What would Foundation Heritage Society recognizes those forward-thinking those be?” “Well, for a cold and cough individuals who have already made one or more of the following gifts to we take a shot of whiskey, a dose of The Foundation in their estate planning. Here are some of the ways individuals and families have designated Gifts Anyone Can Afford, Gifts cough syrup, some chopped up onion, that Pay Income, and Gifts that Protect Assets to minimize the impact of lemon juice and hard rock candy…make the gift upon their present living circumstances. sure you have the hard rock candy.” “Did you know that a child with Gifts Anyone Can Afford: strep that goes untreated can face • Naming The Foundation serious complications such as as a beneficiary of your scarlet fever?” will, trust or life insurance policy. He was unaware of the long-term • Naming The Foundation risks of untreated strep. Nor did as a beneficiary of your he know about the community retirement plan (special health clinics and Healthy Indiana tax benefits apply). Plan options that may be available. Retirement funds paid to I was rescued with a car warranty your children at your passing can get hit with heavy income and estate and driver back to work. He was taxes, but are tax-free to charity. left to drive my car for service and • Donating unused real estate, tangible personal property, stock or appreciated securities that are paying little or no income will also provide fend for his pressing family health needs. I am sure he feels vulnerable, current tax benefits. These gifts carry special tax savings for the donor, dependent and helpless when his which means that the donor’s real cost of making a gift is usually much children get sick just as I did that day. less than the benefit to The Foundation. The relevant and urgent need is Gifts That Pay Income: obvious—we need a Foundation • Establishing a charitable gift annuity that provides a donor with a fixed that delivers HOPE (Health income for life. Opportunities Provided for • Setting up a charitable remainder trust that allows a donor to place Everyone) by filling the gap for resources into a tax-favored trust that pays income to living individuals those who are too young for and donates the remainder to The Foundation. Medicare, make too much money Gifts That Protect Assets: for Medicaid, do not qualify for the • Charitable bargain sales, charitable lead trusts or retained life estates help Healthy Indiana Plan and cannot maintain the benefits of an asset or transfer assets to heirs at a reduced afford private insurance. cost and make a gift to The Foundation at the same time. I feel blessed to be part of an Membership in the Heritage Society allows The Foundation to thank organization that channels the thoughtful people who want to preserve the legacy of health care excellence for future generations. Heritage Society members receive The Foundation kindness and compassion of those newsletter and mailings, as well as invitations to events throughout the year, who are more fortunate to those including the annual Caring Club Dinner. Heritage Society members will with unmet needs. Because of the many generous gifts of loving folks also receive an annual collectible gift to thank them for their generosity. All Caring Club members who have designated an estate gift will automatically like you, The Foundation has been able to ensure the quality of health become Heritage Society members. To ensure The Foundation knows of your estate planning gift, please call the Foundation office at 574-533-4500 care in our communities. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. and ask to speak with Lynette Mischel, Executive Director.
Exciting New Giving Options The new Heritage Society
Unable to Pay continued The Foundation Heart Strings Sisters Fund provides screening mammograms for those unable to pay. The Foundation Prenatal Education Fund has been covering the cost of childbirth classes for decades. As many as 3,234 mothers/couples have benefited, many at no cost due to the generous gifts used to underwrite this program.
Save e! at D e h t
2011
for
Goshen Health
The Foundation Hospice Fund provides comfort, dignity and care to all at the end of life including the indigent and underserved. Over $300,000 has been granted to the IU Health Goshen Home Care and Hospice in the last five years alone. The Foundation Charitable Care and Patient Care Funds cover critical care needs for patients unable to pay. The Foundation Center for Cancer Care Patient Care Fund covers treatment for cancer patients unable to pay.
Friday, June 10, 2011 Featuring Main Street Dueling Pianos for
The Foundation HOPE Project (Health Opportunities Provided for Everyone) Fund is a partnership program with any community health care provider to supplement the cost for the uninsured so that no one has to decide between buying groceries, taking a sick baby to the doctor or buying much-needed medication. As many as 150 people needing medical treatment have been turned away in the first three months of 2011 at two local clinics. Gifts to the HOPE Project Fund will be used to boost capacity to be able to treat more individuals as well as supplement the cost of medications.
The HOPE Project of Greater Goshen
We know there is much more to be done to offer HOPE in our community regardless of where they are treated.
$75 per person Sponsorship levels available
Please consider making a gift at www.givetogoshen.org today. You will touch lives and in turn strengthen and heal our communities beyond measure.
to provide health care options for the uninsured.
Health Opportunties Provided for Everyone Every $20 raised will provide one office visit.
Bread & Chocolate 3rd floor of the Old Bag Factory, Goshen, IN 6:30 Social Hour 7:30 Dinner 8:00 Dueling Pianos
Evening Party Attire ~ Cash Bar ~ Silent Auction Contact Lori Kay Sherk (574) 533-4500 to order tickets, become a sponsor or for more details.
Or register online at www.givetogoshen.org
LIFE—in Three Parts Lifesaving, Life-Giving Lessons in the Struggle with Cancer The continuation of Chuck and Naomi Hoover’s story of their battle with cancer. Naomi is a Caring Club Member and a colleague at IU Health Goshen Hospital.
Part 3: Treat the Whole Person—Not Just the Disease Naomi says that she is grateful that the Cancer Center insisted on treating her husband as a whole person. That meant accepting and treating Chuck’s anxiety and depression right along with the cancer. This was key—not only in keeping Chuck involved in his own treatment, but ensuring that he was emotionally strong for the fight and improving his quality of life. After being married for 36 years and raising three daughters together, Naomi was able to know a very different, more peaceful side of her husband as a result of his anxiety treatment. Their daughters noticed that their father smiled more. This offered invaluable healing and closure. They said their final goodbye on August 22, 2008. One day as they sat in the waiting room of the Cancer Center, Chuck told her, “When all this is over, and things are settled I think we need to make a gift to the Cancer Center.” Naomi agreed. She had been thinking the same thing but had never mentioned it to her husband. They had seen so many people go through treatment who were struggling with the cost. “I don’t mean a little donation,” Chuck continued after a pause, “I mean something significant.” Naomi says that while the amount may be a “drop in the bucket” compared to the need, it was a very significant gift for them and something they had to do. She recalls the many unsuccessful attempts made at writing a simple note to express her thanks to the Cancer Center. “I couldn’t write it. I kept trying and the words just won’t come. For me, this is a way to say thank you when there aren’t enough words to express my thanks.” The Foundation has two funds designated to assist patients at the Cancer Center: The CCC Patient Assistance Fund and the CCC Survivor Fund. For more information or to make a donation go to www.givetogoshen.org
Making the Most of Life Through the kindness and compassion of our donors over the years, the Foundation has been able to fund care for patients with a progressive or incurable illness at IU Health Goshen Home Care and Hospice regardless of ability to pay. Those in need financially, emotionally and spiritually are able to find relief in their last days through the generosity of others. Whether you are a corporate partner or individual wishing to make a contribution in memory of or in honor of a loved one, these gifts will ensure that all have the opportunity to experience the end of life fully, comfortably and with dignity. Visit www.givetogoshen.org to make a gift to the Hospice program that will make the most of life for so many.
For more information, please contact Goshen Hospital and Health Care Foundation 574-533-4500 or make your donation online at www.givetogoshen.org
New Giving Levels and Benefits Caring Club Sustainer ($250+) - Once families or individuals become members of the Caring Club, many wish to support the Foundation and the hospital on an annual basis at a level consistent with the leadership status of their membership. This annual donation helps to keep donor dollars directed to the health care needs of the community and hospital and cover the annual costs of these memberships. Caring Club Sustainer members as well as Heritage Society members will receive a meaningful, annual collectible gift to thank them for their generosity. Our Annual Fund Giving Levels - Because of the generosity of our Annual Fund donors (gifts as a result of the newsletter, calendar and year-end appeals including memorial and tribute gifts), the Foundation has been able to fund strategic projects for the Hospital and its communities. The Annual Fund is literally “the foundation” of philanthropic giving to the Goshen Hospital and Health Care Foundation. Thank you to so many loyal and lifetime donors whose love of mankind shines through their generosity. • Founder $10,000 + • Benefactor $5,000-$9,999 • Partner $1,000-$4,999 • Patron $500-$999 • Sustainer $250-$499 • Member* $100-$249 • Friend $1-$99 *Note: anyone who gives $100 or more in a year will automatically be a member of the Foundation and as such will have the right to vote in Foundation board elections.