Meet Our Donors
We thank all our planned-gift donors for their generous support. Here are some of their stories.
Dan Winter
My son Emmet was born
91⁄2 years ago at Prentice
Women’s Hospital after logging
only six months in utero. Although
nothing can prepare new parents
for this kind of experience, the
staff of the Renée Schine Crown
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(NICU) was Emmet’s lifeline
for his first nine weeks.
Emmet’s mother and I took turns going to the nursery to give him kangaroo care, holding him against our flesh under a pile of blankets to provide more warmth and love than the heat from a lamp could offer. The nurses at the NICU were sensitive and superbly professional. Visiting parents and family were often traumatized and everyone on the staff was unfailingly supportive and reassuring without building false hope.
While Emmet graduated from the most critical nursery to the all-but-ready-to-leave nursery, I was acutely aware of the great many other babies who were not as fortunate to be overcoming their obstacles. I visited my son every day he was in the hospital, and every time I visited, I was humbled by the calm and optimistic spirit of the nurses and staff at the nursery.
Emmet suffered several injuries at birth, and before he was a year old he began a nearly nine-year regimen of physical and occupational therapy. Finally, on September 29, 2009, the day before this year’s annual Wesley Society Luncheon, Emmet reached his last remaining physical achievement goal.
Thankfully, Emmet needs no intervention or physical assistance at school. He can ride a bike and plays baseball and soccer. He also plays guitar, drums and piano. There are no limits on Emmet’s opportunities. If he had not received such outstanding care from the staff of Northwestern Memorial during his first weeks of life, I shudder to think about what Emmet’s life would be like today. In recognition of their excellent work, and in hopes that other families who are surprised by an early infant will be able to receive top-quality care for their babies, I have named Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Prentice Women’s Hospital in my will.
Elizabeth Winkler Joyce
Elizabeth Winkler Joyce, who went by "Betty", lived
a long, healthy life. For 20 years, she worked for
insurance magnate and philanthropist W. Clement Stone
at Combined Insurance. When Elizabeth passed away,
Northwestern Memorial Foundation learned that she had
generously included Northwestern Memorial Hospital in
her estate plans.
According to her niece, Kathy, Elizabeth had a sister who died during childbirth. After that loss, Elizabeth directed much of her philanthropy to support medical care for women and children.
Should you choose to make a gift to Northwestern Memorial through your estate like Betty, we encourage you to let us know of your plans. That will enable us to express our gratitude for your generosity, speak with you about the direction and use of your gift, and welcome you to The Wesley Society.
While most of our friends who choose to include the hospital in their estate plans do inform us of their intentions, sometimes Northwestern Memorial receives a surprise gift from the estate of an individual whom we did not have the opportunity to thank. We prefer to know in advance so we can show our appreciation and let donors know of the many ways in which their generosity will benefit Northwestern Memorial.
Have you named Northwestern Memorial in your estate plans? If you have, please let us know of your generous intentions. If you are considering various options for your charitable gifts and would like some information and tips, please visit our web site at http://foundation.nmh.org/PlannedGiving to access our online gift planning guide.
Leaving Her Mark on the Future: THE STORY OF JOHNNIE LASSITER DYSON
My mother really was very passionate
about creating a world ‘where people
are judged by the content of their character and
not the color of their skin,'" says Monica Dyson
as she remembers her mother, Johnnie Lassiter
Dyson, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, DAPA. Throughout
Johnnie's life, which spanned 63 years, she
embraced these profound words spoken by
the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as her own
philosophy, and she dedicated her career to
providing education and psychological therapy
to adolescents from impoverished backgrounds
to help them realize a brighter future.
Growing up in rural Michigan, Johnnie learned at an early age that she did not have to continue the cycle of poverty into which she had been born. She found herself drawn to others who also came from modest means but sought to improve their circumstances by learning multiple languages and seeking higher education. After high school, Johnnie completed coursework at Eastern Michigan University, receiving an undergraduate degree in social work. She then relocated to Chicago and obtained a master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago. Her career as a psychotherapist commenced at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Stone Institute of Psychiatry, and she later joined the Chicago Board of Education as a school therapist. In the early 1980s, Johnnie took a break from education and became a financial planner with Mutual of New York, which helped her to become quite savvy in investments and develop her financial portfolio.
Within only a few years, Johnnie's passion for improving the lives of underprivileged youth resurfaced and she launched her own psychological consulting firm, JD & Associates, which grew to three locations in the greater Chicago area. Simultaneously, she worked as a school therapist and authored an article that illustrated how African-American children who are exposed to violence suffer psychological damage that directly correlates to ensuing behavioral problems and poor performance in school. The article, titled "The Effect of Family Violence on Children's Academic Performance and Behavior," first appeared in the Journal of the National Medical Association in 1990 and has since been cited multiple times.
Johnnie worked tirelessly to balance a burgeoning career and a demanding patient load with being a single parent without the support of a local family network. Monica remembers her mother for surmounting many obstacles and leaving behind a legacy of pride, determination and zeal.
After a courageous eight-year battle with breast cancer, Johnnie Lassiter Dyson passed away on Sept. 5, 2008, at her Chicago home, which she bequeathed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to establish the Johnnie Lassiter Endowment for Scholarships at the hospital's Bernice E. Lavin Children's Care Center.
"It was my mother's hope to make things much easier for working parents at Northwestern Memorial who cannot afford the services of the hospital's oncampus day care facility, Monica says." The scholarships available through the Lassiter Endowment will offer financial assistance to families who cannot afford to pay full tuition for child care.
Due in part to the generosity of donors such as Johnnie Lassiter Dyson and the Lavin Family Foundation, whose gift named the current Children's Care Center, Northwestern Memorial is able to retain its best employees and contribute to the well-being and stability of their families by investing in the highest quality of on-site child care.
Yelda Family Contributes $1 Million, Names Orthopaedic Unit At Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital has a fine reputation as a medical center and as a teaching institution," Dr. Sharukin Rami "Sam" Yelda says. "Northwestern Memorial Hospital is our family hospital; members of my family and I have benefited from medical and orthopaedic care given to us there."
The Yelda family has made a generous planned gift of $1 million to benefit the musculoskeletal program at Northwestern Memorial. As Northwestern continues to distinguish itself as a great academic medical center, the musculoskeletal program has been identified as one of the clinical areas of high priority.
In addition to Sam and his wife, Beth, the Yelda family includes Sam's mother, Jeannette, and his sister Flora. (Flora's twin sister, Laura, passed away while a patient in Northwestern Memorial's Hospice program in 1997.) An Assyrian from Iran, Sam immigrated to the United States with his family in 1966. Ever since, the Yelda family has established a proud legacy of philanthropy by supporting numerous organizations in Chicago. A retired orthopaedic surgeon, Sam served for 27 years on the staff of Swedish Covenant, where he was chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for 10 years. For nine years he was also on the staffs of Cook County Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital.
To recognize the Yelda family's liberal gift, the orthopaedic unit on the 14th floor of the Feinberg Pavilion will be named after them. Also, to acknowledge their generosity, the Yeldas will become members of the Wesley and Passavant societies, two of Northwestern Memorial's elite donor recognition circles.
Sam has also created a lasting legacy as an author. His 2005 book, A Persian Odyssey: Iran Revisited, recounts two trips that he made to his homeland after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. When not traveling or studying languages, Sam keeps busy writing a second book about Iran.
"My family and I feel honored to contribute to Northwestern Memorial's bright future," Sam says. "With this gift, we want to extend our gratitude to my orthopaedic colleagues and hope to enable the further advancement of orthopaedics at Northwestern Memorial."
A Lifetime of Giving and Caring
Throughout her life, which spanned nearly 85 years, Josephine Rathje's generous nature distinguished her as a person whom others felt fortunate to know. Josephine contributed more than 10,000 hours of service as a dedicated volunteer at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 15 years, earning the Patients First: One of Our Finest award in 1998. Until her death in June 2006, she brought a spirit of caring to her relationships, her work and her activities.
"On the days after holidays, Jo was always in the volunteer office by 7:00 a.m.," recalls Dolly Johnson, director, Volunteer Services. "Whenever anyone asked her why she didn't take those days off, she always replied that it was more important for the employees to have a break. She was a tremendous role model for all of us."
In 1990, Josephine began her tenure as a volunteer, offering her expertise in printing and mailing to assist with some of the hospital's largest mailings. Having owned a printing business for 10 years, she was qualified to help with such significant projects as patient surveys, the patient handbook, the president's holiday card and the hospital telephone directories.
"When Jo offered to help with our mailings, little did I know at that time that she would create quite a business for us," Johnson says. "Thanks to Jo's dedication and professional skills, we were able to accomplish much more than ever would have been possible otherwise. She was invaluable in so many ways."
Equally committed to volunteerism, to Northwestern Memorial and to the welfare of friends and strangers, Josephine left a lasting legacy of philanthropy at the hospital. In addition to giving tirelessly of her time and expertise, Josephine gave a generous estate gift to advance research and treatment for Parkinson's disease, which affected her personally. This illness, a progressive disease of the central nervous system, manifests as a movement disorder in afflicted individuals, ultimately rendering the basic activities of daily living—showering, dressing oneself, writing and walking—difficult or impossible. With her usual sense of commitment and passion, Josephine was dedicated to helping Northwestern Memorial further its leadership in the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
"Although Parkinson's is the most common movement disorder, it remains one of the most baffling and complex of all neurological disorders," says John A. Kessler, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology. "Ms. Rathje's generous gift will enable us to work toward implementing new experimental therapies for Parkinson's at Northwestern. Specifically, we look forward to participating, along with 10 other medical centers, in an extensive clinical trial of the medication isradipine to test its effectiveness in potentially halting the progression of Parkinson's."
Continued progress in the field of Parkinson's disease research will deepen Josephine's legacy, just as the naming of the volunteer office in her honor pays a well-deserved tribute to this extraordinary woman.
"As humble as Jo was, I hope she would be proud to know that we wish to honor her by naming the office for her," Johnson says. "The Josephine Rathje Volunteer Office always will welcome volunteers of all ages, who have all kinds of skills and interests that they wish to share. Jo's name and memory will stay with us always."
Nursing Alumnae Reconnect With Classmates at 50-Year Class Reunion
Members of the 157 class of the James Ward Thorne School of NursingAn invitation from Nursing School Alumni Affairs to celebrate Nurses'Week prompted Marcia Jones Laker, James Ward Thorne School of Nursing of Passavant Memorial Hospital Class of 1957, to organize a 50-year class reunion. Mrs. Laker called the alumni affairs team, part of Northwestern Memorial Foundation since 2005, to partner with her in planning the event. Passavant Memorial Hospital is one of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's predecessor institutions, and Mrs. Laker and her classmates gained both education and friendships as nursing students there.
However, before she could begin planning reunion activities, Mrs. Laker's challenge was to locate her classmates. Beginning with a few classmates with whom she has remained close, Mrs. Laker so far has located 21 of 27 alumni in 12 states. "The alumni have been surprised and pleased to hear from me. It's been a fun project to work on," Mrs. Laker says. The reunion was held on September 29, 2007, and it included a tour of the new Prentice Women's Hospital.
Mrs. Laker was joined by classmate Beverly Ironside McCullough at the reunion. Mrs. Laker and Mrs. McCullough have remained close friends over the years after meeting as students at Thorne.
While at Thorne, Mrs. Laker says, she "profited from a wonderful education that led to lifelong learning. We were taught how to accept responsibility for ourselves and for someone else. We learned to reassure patients, those coming into the emergency room or who were in labor, for example. I'm 71 years old and have used that training often since then."
Beverly Ironside McCullough and Marcia Jones Laker
Mrs. McCullough echoes similar sentiments: "I left Thorne with a huge amount of knowledge that I have used throughout my life. My education helped me to better understand the relationship between medical staff and patients."
After graduating from Thorne, Mrs. McCullough and Mrs. Laker worked at Passavant Memorial Hospital. Mrs. McCullough's career went on to include roles in surgical nursing, nursing home care, working as a nurse in her husband's family practice and, finally, serving as a volunteer nurse. Mrs. Laker's career has included roles in pediatric nursing, health research, teaching, program development and medical practice management. She was the first "Immunization Action" chair for the state of Indiana and twice served as president of the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance.
In addition to her nursing degree, Mrs. Laker has a bachelor's in general studies and a master's in education from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. She has since established her own company, Minc Publishing, and has released four volumes of her poetry. She also recently was named "Sustainer of the Year" by the Junior League of Fort Wayne in recognition of her many years of service and leadership in the Fort Wayne community. Mrs. McCullough now resides in Sturgis, Michigan, with her husband. She also has been a member of the Junior League. In addition, she says, "One of the most rewarding and enjoyable activities has been my 20 years with Sturgis Council of the Arts arranging yearly classical music concerts. I considered it a great honor to be named 1986 Sturgis Citizen of the Year."
To celebrate their 50-year class reunion, Mrs. Laker and Mrs. McCullough each made a gift to Northwestern Memorial from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Thanks to legislation passed by the US Congress, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which included a "Charitable IRA Rollover" opportunity that allows people at least 701⁄2 years old to make such gifts, Mrs. Laker and Mrs. McCullough both were able to contribute to the hospital and become members of The Streeterville Society without having to pay income tax on their IRA withdrawals.
Mrs. McCullough made a personal decision to use her IRA to support nursing professional development at Northwestern Memorial. "I received a very fine nursing education at Thorne for which I am very grateful. I hope that by making a contribution to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, I will encourage others to do so, too."
Leo Frank Leaves His Mark on the Past, Present, and Future
There have been numerous important advances in medical sciences leading to increasing life spans," Leo Frank notes. "I have been told that people born in recent years have the chance to reach their 100s!" Mr. Frank credits a strict diet, healthy living habits and medical research for enabling him to enjoy 82 years of life, and he now supports innovative research conducted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital through multiple charitable gift annuities.
Mr. Frank became acquainted with Northwestern Memorial in 1990 when he volunteered for clinical trials in urology and arthritis; since then, he has participated in numerous medical studies. Because he lost close family members to pancreatic cancer and a heart condition—and because of his own struggle with arthritis—he chose to split his planned gifts among research in the areas of cancer, cardiology, arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.
Mr. Frank fondly remembers growing up on the south side of Chicago, where he spent the majority of his life. He graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1943 and still wears his class ring proudly. Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. Mr. Frank became well versed in the stock market, joined investment clubs to further his income and in 1956 he made wise investments in AT&T Corp. Mr. Frank held an impressive civil service career, working for the state of Illinois for 28 years before retiring at an early age.
Mr. Frank continues to actively monitor the stock market and remains astute in financial matters. He carefully chose the charitable gift annuity because of the financial advantages it offer, him while simultaneously helping to advance the work of the hospital. Since his first gift annuity in 2002, Mr. Frank also has included the hospital in his estate plans and funded a second gift annuity in 2007. Mr. Frank is a lifetime member of The Wesley Society, which recognizes donors who have made planned gifts to the hospital, and a member of Healthy Transitions, a senior membership group of the hospital.
"I always believed that money should be put to good use to help people who are less fortunate," Mr. Frank says. Advances in research, made possible by Mr. Frank's generosity, will benefit patients at Northwestern Memorial and beyond for years to come.
New Tax Law Provides a Window Of Opportunity For Giving
"I remember when a woman had to get permission from her husband to have a medical procedure done on her own body," Meta Berger says.
"I think of my mother, who was born in 1910, and the choices and options she didn't have. Then I think of the new Prentice Women's Hospital, and the fact that here is a place for women, where women can make their own decisions about their health, and I think it is fabulous."
Mrs. Berger wanted to make a gift in support of the new Prentice. She didn't, however, have the funds available to contribute this year— until she heard about the new law allowing people at least 701/2 years old to make lifetime gifts from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to charitable organizations.
"I thought ‘This was meant to be,' " she says.
Thanks to the recent legislation passed by Congress, she was able to make her gift by transferring funds from her late husband's IRA. This enabled her to meet the minimum she is required to withdraw from the IRA annually without having to pay taxes on the funds. "I hope to do the same thing again next year before the law expires," she adds.
Mrs. Berger is the chairman of the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation, which raises funds to support innovative contributions to the understanding, research and treatment of breast cancer in partnership with Northwestern Memorial Hospital, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and The Feinberg School of Medicine. In addition to her 14 years of involvement with the Lynn Sage Foundation, she has contributed and raised funds for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) research in memory of her late husband, Ronald Berger.
Her gift to the new Prentice Women's Hospital names the medical director's suite in the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center. She is also now a member of the Wesley Society, the hospital's recognition society for those who have remembered the hospital in their wills or made planned gifts to benefit Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
"I consider Northwestern Memorial to be my community hospital," Mrs. Berger says. "My husband, my oldest son and my grandchildren were born here, and my family receives care here. I am so excited about the new Prentice; I am thrilled that I can make this gift now."
Service for Life and Beyond
Bernard Gordon lived a life of service. He served his country in the South Pacific during World War II; he served the City of Chicago as Chief Economist, and he served his community through philanthropy. When Mr. Gordon passed away in June 2005, he left an unexpected estate gift to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. His generous gift was made in appreciation of the care he received from two physicians at the hospital and will support advancements in the Division of Cardiology and Department of Urology.
While most people who include Northwestern Memorial in their estate plans do inform us of their intentions, sometimes, as with Mr. Gordon, we receive a surprise bequest from the estate of an individual. Having no prior knowledge of the individual's intentions, we are unable to let him or her know of the many ways in which his or her generosity will benefit the hospital.
Although we are not able to thank Mr. Gordon directly, we are able express our gratitude for his bequest in several ways. He will be honored as a member of The Wesley Society, which was founded in 1998 to recognize the generosity and foresight of those who have made planned giving commitments to Northwestern Memorial. These commitments may be given as estate or life income gifts, remainder interests in personal real estates or commitments of life insurance policies or qualified retirement plans. All donors who confirm their plans are honored as lifetime members of The Wesley Society, regardless of the size of their gifts.
We also will recognize Mr. Gordon by naming a space in the hospital in his honor. A plaque will hang in this space to acknowledge his generous contribution and to serve as an example of how philanthropy helps us advance Northwestern Memorial's mission of providing the best healthcare experience to our patients and their families.
Through this recognition, we seek to honor the philanthropic spirit with which Mr. Gordon lived. According to Marc Alan Goldstein, who was a friend and neighbor to Mr. Gordon for more than 30 years, his two favorite sayings were: "There is no rewind button on the VCR of life" and "The only true tragedy in life is one's own personality" Mr. Goldstein declares, "These sayings truly represented the essence of Bernard Gordon."
A Winning Solution For Advancing Leading-Edge Research
Many people dream about how they would change the world—if only they could afford to do so. Fortunately, there are charitable giving arrangements, such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities, that are encouraged by the IRS. The structure and tax savings on these types of gifts allow you to make a significant mark on a charitable organization and complement your own financial well-being.
A patient at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mr. Ira Zeidman wanted to accomplish both of these goals. After exploring various life income gifts, he chose to give through a charitable gift annuity. He wanted to continue his support of the hospital and fund the future of cardiology research while maintaining a secure, fixed stream of payments for life on which he could continue to live comfortably.
"Money is only good if you can do good with it," says Mr. Zeidman. "Northwestern Memorial Hospital is a premiere institution that is always on the leading edge of technology. What I can do to help, I do." His gift annuity provides great comfort—both in knowing that his annuity is ensured for life and that it will ultimately fund a cardiology research endowment. Mr. Zeidman's gift will enable the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Memorial Hospital to continue to explore new frontiers in cardiovascular research for generations to come.