by Micki McCarthy, CGPA, Director of Gift Planning, OSF HealthCare Foundation and Lanna Scannell, MBA, CFRE, Strategic Philanthropy Officer, OSF HealthCare Foundation
Roman Wegrzyn was just 58 when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As his symptoms progressed and memories faded, his wife, Karla, was determined to keep Roman home as long as possible, and did so for almost 10 years with the help of OSF Senior World.
OSF Senior World offers day services for older adults and disabled individuals. Part of OSF Healthcare, it provides nursing services, personal care assistance, emotional support, art and recreational therapy to stimulate the brain, health monitoring, meals, exercise programs, and social interaction.
Not covered by traditional insurance, Senior World relies heavily on philanthropic gifts. Recently, the Center received a generous estate gift from a grateful family that was used to purchase outdoor benches so participants can enjoy the Center’s garden. Additional philanthropic gifts have helped the Center expand, providing space for new and expanded activities, a quiet area for sensory groups, updated kitchen, additional bathrooms, a nurse’s station, and office. With future gifting, staff hope to further grow activities and programs and create a scholarship for those in need.
Planned gifts, given through a person’s Will or estate, are a wonderful way to share your legacy as you support OSF Senior World or other areas you care about within the OSF HealthCare Ministry.
At OSF HealthCare, it is our privilege to serve you through the resources of Legacy of Hope, the planned giving program for OSF HealthCare Foundation. Legacy of Hope (osflegacyofhope.org) provides creative ideas and resources to help you develop a legacy plan that brings the most benefit to you, your loved ones, and the charities most meaningful to you, like OSF HealthCare.
Karla recently placed Roman at a health center in Galesburg where the couple lives but said she is forever grateful to the staff and volunteers at Senior World.
“Senior World was a godsend. I was able to continue to work and Roman had a sense of purpose. I never felt stressed or worried at work, wondering what he might be doing. I knew he was being cared for. Senior World became part of our family.”
For more information about supporting OSF HealthCare with a legacy gift for the future, please visit osflegacyofhope.org or contact Micki McCarthy, CGPA, Director of Gift Planning at the OSF HealthCare Foundation at (309) 566-5653 or [email protected].
