Supporters Like You
Bob and Penny Young
Bob and Penny Young have both experienced outstanding patient care at Providence Mission Hospital, and have chosen to support the hospital in a variety of ways by volunteering their time as well as donating through two charitable gift annuities.
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Gift annuity offers advantages
Bob and Penny Young have both experienced outstanding patient care at Providence Mission Hospital several times. “In 1971, our third child was born at South Coast Medical Center, now Providence Mission Hospital, Laguna Beach,” recalled Bob.
Since then, the couple has chosen to support Providence Mission Hospital in a variety of ways. “I have volunteered with the Hospital Auxiliary since 2008 — in the Spiritual Care Department, at the ER help desk and in the Risk Management Department,” Bob said.
“Then, as day manager shuttle driver, assisting in the Foundation office and finally heading up the executive leadership team for the Auxiliary.”
Penny, also a member of the Auxiliary, has volunteered in the Oncology Unit and is currently involved with the Cardiac Telemetry Unit.
“As you can see, our family is very involved and devoted to Providence Mission Hospital,” said Bob. “Not just because we love volunteering, but also because we know firsthand the excellent care one receives as a patient. It reflects from the top. The Hospital is blessed to have excellent leadership.”
Bob and Penny have not only given of their time but also have generously given back to Providence Mission Hospital via two charitable gift annuities to support the hospital that means so much to them. “The Hospital is one of the most worthwhile institutions in which to invest,” shared Bob. “We were happy to be able to help in this way.”
Julian and Gladys Saunders
Julian and Gladys Saunders had a spirit of philanthropy and immense love for those in need. This was evident in the couple’s lifelong commitment to giving back through their estate, providing Providence with a $7 million trust. Through this generous gift, Julian fulfilled his commitment to support the Providence mission of compassionate care and pay back the community that helped them for so many years.
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Giving Back Enriches Lives
As a businessman, Julian Saunders had a knack for success. During his long career he established Saunders Ford in Mission Hills and two thriving self-storage warehouses, earning a comfortable living for his wife, Gladys, and himself. The couple also had love in their hearts for those less fortunate and an overflowing spirit of philanthropy, perhaps instilled by a charitable gift that Julian’s father provided in 1949 — one that earned the gratitude of Mother Teresa.
In fact, throughout their lives the couple always thought of others. Julian became a pilot whose passion for flight led him to join the Flying Samaritans, transporting medical professionals to Mexico to assist those who had no access to health care. Closer to home, Gladys also became known for her charitable deeds and her willingness to help those in need. The die was cast for the couple to support Providence in a significant way.
“I am the eternal optimist,” Julian once said. “It’s important that every individual seek out ways to enrich his cities by creating opportunities that will allow individuals living there to enrich their own lives.”
Julian was born to British parents in Calcutta, India. From there he moved to Australia then onto British Columbia, Canada, in his early twenties. Gladys was born in British Columbia and raised there in a small village, Bella Coola. She and Julian met in B.C., married in Washington state and eventually settled in the North San Fernando Valley in the mid-1950s. There, Julian followed in his father’s footsteps and went to work in the auto industry as a salesman. Twenty years later he was the dealership owner.
As their success grew, the couple began to support Providence through annual giving, and their gifts were often designated for emergency care. That support continued for more than two decades, even after Gladys passed away in 2005 and Julian in 2011.
Through his estate, Julian endowed Providence with a $7 million trust that is funded through commercial real estate in Mission Hills plus municipal and corporate bonds. This is a planned giving arrangement that enabled him to provide for his surviving spouse and support Providence with a tax-free distribution over time. His generosity will strengthen Providence long into the future, fulfilling a commitment to support the Providence mission of compassionate care while paying back the community that helped the couple achieve success for so many years.
“This is one of those gifts that doesn’t happen all the time,” said Al Ghirardelli, Julian’s longtime estate attorney. “All of Julian’s objectives were achieved and he still had assets remaining to give to charity.”
“It’s important that every individual seek out ways to enrich his cities by creating opportunities that will allow individuals living there to enrich their own lives.”
-Julian Saunders, Providence Donor
George and Diane Lee
George and Diane Lee chose to give back by establishing a charitable gift annuity, providing them with a fixed, lifetime income stream and a tax benefit. Their daughter, Julie saw this as an opportunity to celebrate her parents’ legacy, proving that individuals with modest incomes can make a difference.
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A daughter shares her parents’ legacy
The shared vision of the Little Company of Mary Sisters and the Sisters of Providence to provide high-quality and compassionate care inspires friends and volunteers in our community. Thoughtful gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations help uphold our mission by supporting our facilities, providing leading-edge technology, and ensuring excellent care for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
One such gift came from George and Diane Lee, who funded a charitable gift annuity that benefited Providence Little Company of Mary. Years ago, Diane — a substitute teacher — was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a lumpectomy and then a double mastectomy. Later on, she was also diagnosed with bone cancer and battled it for 20 years. Through it all, her daughter Julie says, her mother “never acted like it knocked her down.”
George worked for an advertising agency and was an artist in his spare time, frequently gifting paintings to show his appreciation to others.
“He was extraordinarily talented and was great at painting animals,” Julie says. “It was precious to our whole family.”
George lost his eyesight and hearing toward the end of his life, which eventually meant he could no longer paint. It was like losing a great artist in the family.
After her mother’s experience with cancer, the family decided to give back. Since they were a working-class family, they didn’t have many assets but wanted to help in whatever way they could. When they sold their house, they used a portion of the proceeds to establish a charitable gift annuity which provided them with a fixed, lifetime income stream that was largely tax-free, offered an immediate charitable deduction and gave them the satisfaction of giving back to an organization that made such a strong impact on their lives. Diane passed in April 2018 and George passed away in June of the same year, always wanting to be with each other.
Rather than viewing the estate gift as a missed inheritance, Julie saw this as a wonderful way to celebrate her parents’ legacy.
“Research helped our mother,” she says. “What better place for their gift to go?”
Generous donors, such as Mr. and Mrs. Lee, help ensure the medical center’s long-term success,” says Joe Ward, Executive Director of Gift Planning.
“People often think they need to be wealthy to make a charitable donation. This is not the case.”
Individuals with modest incomes can make a huge difference in the future of our medical center by recognizing the gift planning options available to them — including options that provide an income stream and tax benefits to the donor.
The strength of the Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance is magnified by thoughtful gifts from supporters like George and Diane Lee. We are incredibly grateful for their loving support.
The Leahy sisters
The Leahy sisters, Sharon Leahy, Peggy Starr and Mickey Payne, share an unbreakable bond of family love and devotion. They have a long history with Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and were inspired by their parents to give back. Proud of the hospital’s high ratings, they are excited about the updated and expanded emergency room for better patient privacy and care.
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The Leahy sisters, Sharon Leahy, Peggy Starr and Mickey Payne, share an unbreakable bond of family love and devotion.
“We help each other out,” says Peggy. “We were raised to take care of family and friends. I’m so glad we live close enough that when something goes wrong, we are right there for each other.”
Called to a caring profession
Their mother was a retired nurse, and both parents valued education and encouraged their daughters to pursue degrees. Equal parts caregivers and leaders, the sisters each enjoyed distinguished nursing careers.
Sharon spent most of her career in the Health Department where she held a variety of positions including staff, supervisor and management. She was the nursing administrator for the Department of Children and Family Services.
Peggy, who says she always knew she wanted to be a nurse like their mother, began her career on the medical floor at UCLA. After two years, she joined LA County as a public health nurse out of the Van Nuys Health Center. She was selected for an advancement opportunity and became a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Like Peggy, Mickey worked on the medical ward at UCLA. From there, she became a public health nurse in Pacoima and acted as a program liaison. She served in the data collection and analysis unit before becoming the assistant program specialist and then the nurse manager for the sexually transmitted disease program.
An affinity for Providence Saint Joseph
For the Leahys, philanthropy was ingrained in the family culture. The sisters remember their parents setting an example of giving back by supporting organizations they cared about. “It was instilled in us,” says Sharon.
After his parents died when he was a child, their father and his brothers spent time in an orphanage run by the Sisters of Providence. “It was the Sisters of Providence who started the hospital,” says Mickey. “I remember one of my uncles going over to visit the order later in life. So, our family has this interesting connection to the hospital.”
When it came to doing their estate planning, the sisters were unanimous in their decision to leave an estate gift to Providence Saint Joseph. “We feel it’s really important to have a good hospital here in this community,” says Mickey. “Not just for us, but so everyone around here can get good quality care, today and tomorrow.”
Their long affiliation with Providence gives them a sense of pride for the hospital they count on for care. “We’ve been involved in the medical profession all of our lives so this is important to us,” says Peggy. “Plus, it’s our hospital. Our mother passed away here, and our uncle, many in our family have been treated here. We have a long history with Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.”
“We’re excited about the updated and expanded emergency room,” says Sharon. “The way it’s going to be set up, the patients have a lot more privacy and, at the same time, the nurses have a line of sight that allows them to see all their patients at once.”
The sisters are proud that Providence Saint Joseph is highly rated. “It’s good to know that it’s ranked very well,” smiles Mickey. “It’s worth giving your support to a hospital that gets good grades!”
“We feel it’s really important to have a good hospital here in this community. Not just for us, but so everyone around here can get good quality care, today and tomorrow.”
-Mickey Payne, Providence Donor
Karl and Thyra Boeckmann
Karl and Thyra Boeckmann have been supporting the Valley they love for over fifty years. They have generously shown their commitment to Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center through charitable gift annuities, which offer them both a tax break and fixed, lifelong income. It’s clear that Karl and Thyra are passionate about giving back to their community.
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Gift Annuities Give Back More Than an Income
“When you live in the Valley, you need to support the Valley.” Karl Boeckmann is firm in that belief and he does a lot to live up to his word. As vice president of Galpin Motors, and a Certified Public Accountant, his business acumen has served the San Fernando Valley well. Karl has been an active community member in Valley for more than fifty years, receiving The Fernando Award in 2004. He has been connected to our medical center for decades, serving as a member of the Providence Tarzana Foundation Board of Governors since 2009.
Karl and his wife Thyra give back to the Valley they love not only by direct donations, but also through their charitable gift annuities to Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. “It’s a way for us to give to Tarzana, have a bit of an income and be part of everything,” Karl says. A Providence Tarzana Foundation charitable gift annuity is one of the easiest ways to support the medical center. In exchange for a gift of cash or appreciated securities, donors receive fixed income for life and also benefit from an immediate charitable tax deduction. A significant portion of the annuity payment is tax-free. That said, supporting Tarzana is about more than supporting a non-profit organization.
“One of the reasons I joined the Board of Providence Tarzana Foundation is that it’s always going to be my hospital of choice,” says Karl. “The people there are caring, considerate and hardworking. And while I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t had to use it that often, many in the Valley do. I want the hospital to be financially stable enough to help those people when they need it.”
Benefits of Gift Annuities
- Support any area of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center that interests you.
- Receive fixed, lifetime income that will not fluctuate with the economy.
- Fund multiple charitable gift annuities over several years and create a secure and tax-savvy supplement to your retirement income.
- Provide income for one or two annuitants.
Marlene Rosenberg
Marlene is a dedicated volunteer, 20+ Club member and Heritage Circle member at the Queen. Recently, she added Charitable Gift Annuities to her planned giving portfolio with the intent to support cancer care advancements in our community. Marlene has designated her future gift towards advancing technology in this area that means so much to her.
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You might recognize Marlene as a volunteer at the Queen. In fact, you might recognize Marlene’s dog, Sammi, who is one of the volunteers in our PAWS program.
What you might not know about Marlene is that she’s part of our 20+ Club, that celebrates our supporters who have provided a gift for 20 consecutive years or more. Marlene is also a member of the Queen’s Heritage Circle as well and has her name on our Hall of Honor.
Marlene spoke with a Planned Giving officer who explained the benefits of giving through Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) and decided to add one to her planned giving portfolio.
After discussing all the advantages of CGAs, Marlene made the decision to support the Queen with a gift in the form of a CGA, as well.
Because Marlene is passionate about cancer care she designated her future gift towards advancing technology in this area that means so much to her.
Drs. Navin and Ranjan Amin
Drs. Navin and Ranjan Amin have generously donated their Cowan Heights, Orange County home to Providence St. Joseph Hospital, creating a charitable gift annuity (CGA) for themselves in the process. Their $1.7 million gift will fund Nursing Excellence and Behavioral Health, making a tremendous positive impact on the hospital and surrounding communities.
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Giving from the heart and home
Over 50 years ago, Navin and Ranjan met while in medical school half a world away in India. The couple found they had much in common, especially that they were both equally compassionate and wanted to help humanity. Fast-forward many decades later, the couple became successful, respected physicians in their own fields. Dr. Navin Amin, was an Otolaryngologist (ENT) who worked at Providence St. Joseph Hospital for many years. His wife, Dr. Ranjan Amin, was a psychiatrist for the Los Angeles court system in Norwalk. The couple moved into their Cowan Heights, Orange County home in the late ’80s and have been very much a part of the community since then.
Now retired, Drs. Amin decided it was the right time in their lives to downsize, but more importantly, to give back to the community they cherished in a significant way. The doctors decided to transfer the deed to their beautiful hilltop home to Providence St. Joseph Hospital to establish a charitable gift annuity (CGA). The Amins enhanced their personal financial security by way of the CGA and will receive an annuity payment for both of their lives — majority tax free — from the hospital. They also received a sizable tax deduction.
This gift will make a positive impact on Providence St. Joseph Hospital and the communities we serve — an impact far beyond what they could have envisioned. We are deeply gratified for the Amins’ extraordinary generosity. Their $1.7 million gift will fund Nursing Excellence and Behavioral Health.
Charles “Ched” and Dorothy Salovesh
Charles Salovesh left a legacy at St. Jude’s palliative care program through a charitable gift annuity that provided him with income for life. His love for the hospital drove his generous decision to give and we are thankful for his contribution. His commitment to supporting those in need is an example of how we can all work together and make the world a better place.
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Over the course of three decades, Charles “Ched” Salovesh, JD, got to know St. Jude from multiple perspectives — first as a family member of a patient, then as the spouse of a senior nurse practitioner, a donor, and a patient himself. Through his accomplished career, Ched was a pillar of Orange County’s legal and law enforcement community — having served as a deputy marshal, an attorney for the City of Anaheim, and then in retirement, a hearing officer in medication capacity or “Riese” hearings for the Superior Court of California. Ched passed away in 2018, but his legacy will live on at St. Jude through a gift he established in 2002.
Ched’s gift will seed an endowment to benefit St. Jude’s palliative care program, which helps patients dealing with chronic, life-limiting conditions and illnesses. His wife, Dorothy Lippman Salovesh, NP, was instrumental in launching the program at St. Jude at a time when such services were not common in medical centers in the United States. St. Jude has made palliative care services available since 2003.
“Palliative care offers an extra layer of compassionate support, whether for symptom or pain relief, navigation of medical information, management of care at home, or simply emotional comfort,” Dorothy explains. Ched experienced the benefits of the program firsthand, as he came to need palliative care services later in his life.
Ched made his legacy gift to St. Jude through a charitable gift annuity, which paid income to him during his lifetime and will now support a program that was personally meaningful to him. Payout rates for gift annuities are fixed, providing stable income streams to their beneficiaries for life. Gift annuity rates experienced a rare increase in July 2018 and are now the highest they have been in years.
Although the vehicle offered financial and tax benefits, Ched’s decision to give was motivated by his love for St. Jude Medical Center and its healing mission.
“The choice to donate is made on the heart, not on the dollars,” Ched said at the time of making his gift. “When we decided to make our gifts, our hearts were already with St. Jude.”
To learn how you can secure income for life while supporting St. Jude’s good work, click here.
Glee Heikes
Glee Heikes was instrumental in helping the community, donating to Providence St. Mary Medical Center and inspiring many with her “joy of living is in the joy of giving” mantra. She created a charitable gift annuity, made an estate gift for a chapel on the medical center campus and established the Hanley H. Heikes Legacy Society to recognize those who have named the medical center as a beneficiary in her estate plans.
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The Joy of Living is in the Joy of Giving
Glee Heikes passed away five months ago, but her memory remains vibrant, especially among those who knew her and her late husband best. Originally from Washington state, she moved to the High Desert with Hanley, or Hike as friends called him, in 1966. Together, they owned and operated Heikes Cadillac Oldsmobile-GMC-Datsun in Victorville.
Back then, Apple Valley was a small community of several thousand where everybody helped each other and, of course, Glee stood out. Her grace and refined style were apparent, and she always wanted to help others. She especially impressed Tami Doran, caregiver at Providence St. Mary Medical Center and the daughter of an eye doctor who lived near the couple.
As a child, Tami would babysit the Heikes’ dogs, Red 1 and Red 2, and help them with dishes and polishing silverware when they threw parties. She and her brothers always thought the Heikes were rich because they stocked several flavors of expensive Dreyer’s ice cream in their freezer. They’d only have little bites when they would babysit the dogs though, as Tami recalls with a chuckle, so it wouldn’t look like they ate too much.
As the years went by, Tami and Glee became close friends. “We were friends long before I knew of her involvement with the hospital,” shared Tami who acknowledges that she, like many others, was in awe of Glee. “She and Hike were concerned about everybody in the community. They knew a lot, cared a lot and gave a lot,” she said.
Tami credits Glee with inspiring her as a child, and being a positive force in the community. “She was very refined, a total lady head to toe.” Glee’s support of Providence St. Mary was legendary and when Tami became a nurse at the hospital, Glee was extremely proud. When Tami won the Paladugu Award, a nursing recognition award at Providence St. Mary, Glee made sure to attend the award presentation.
Glee touched many lives in this way, including that of longtime major gift officer with the Foundation, Lezli Roberts. They met when Glee joined the Foundation board in 1995 and became enduring friends. “Glee’s and Hike’s lives were encapsulated by one of their favorite sayings: The joy of living is in the joy of giving,” Lezli recalled. “They lived that mantra together every day.” Hanley was clearly the love of her life. Even after his passing in 1993, she would share updates on the hospital and community with the photos of him in her house.
“She always wanted to help,” said Lezli. Glee and Hanley were instrumental in shaping the valley so she knew many business owners and civic leaders. She would reach out to them for gifts and advocate for Providence St. Mary. She was also instrumental in helping recruit board members. “When Glee walked into a room, she was like a magnet. Everyone would come up and speak with her,” Lezli remembered. “She planted seeds of giving within her circle of friends and those grew into generous support for the work of the Foundation.” Lezli has been with the Foundation for more than 25 years, so they shared many wonderful memories. One way she is honoring those memories is to continue planning a new program that Glee was incredibly passionate about — the Emeritus board program — that will
honor past Foundation board members.
Glee and Hanley believed in philanthropy and in leaving behind a legacy. In fact, she was key in raising more than $7 million for the hospital in estate gifts and millions more in special campaigns. They created a charitable gift annuity themselves, and made an estate gift that will fund the new chapel at the hospital campus in Victorville. The Hanley H. Heikes Legacy Society was established as a way to recognize, honor and thank those who have named the medical center as a beneficiary in their estate plans.
Glee was 97 when she passed away. Although a car accident made her final years more difficult, she always found joy in connecting with friends. As she shared in a note to her friend Lezli, “Many years, many tears and many laughs.” Randy Castillo, Providence St. Mary Medical Center chief executive, speaks for us all when he says, “During my time here, Glee became very special to me and I will truly miss her. She did so much for our community and Providence St. Mary that we all will benefit for years to come.”
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