A Family's Journey of Hope, Healing and Giving Back
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In This Issue: 2025 Edition
Philanthropy Impact
Excellent Care Sparks Desire to Give Back
Inspired by excellent care at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, this couple shared a passion for supporting their local healthcare community.
Gift to Help Patient Care in the ICU
A legacy gift to Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital's ICU was made by an Ohio man to express his gratitude for the care he received there before his passing.
Funding Joy One 'Tail' at a Time
A gift to support Cleveland Clinic Children's was inspired by the hospital's facility dogs and the positive impact they have on pediatric patients.
Ways to Give
Following Dad's Advice to Make a Difference for Others
A friend's recommendation led Gene Berman to Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, where he became a grateful patient, committing a significant gift through his estate plans.
Feature
A Second Opinion for a Heart Built for Giving
Bill Wortzman's life-changing second opinion for a heart issue at Cleveland Clinic led to a deep commitment to giving back, inspired by his lifelong dedication to charity.
Gift Planning Insights
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WAYS TO GIVE
How Beneficiary Designations Support Cleveland Clinic's Mission
One of the most common ways to make a lasting impact on the future of medicine is through a beneficiary designation.
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Charitable Giving
Top 3 Reasons to Share Your Gift Intentions with Cleveland Clinic
If you’ve included or are considering including Cleveland Clinic in your estate plans, here are three good reasons to let us know.
Tax Planning
Tax Planning Pro Tip
With 2026 approaching, now is the time to consider charitable giving as part of your financial planning.
The Pyramid Legacy Society honors those who have made planned gifts to Cleveland Clinic, expressing deep gratitude for their commitment to advancing medicine and inspiring others to support our mission of the highest-quality patient care, research and education.
View our 2025 new member list
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Cleveland Clinic’s future Neurological Institute will feature the most advanced technology and house care teams in various neuroscience subspecialties to enable a new level of clinical collaboration and individualized treatment planning, including expanded digital distance health services to reach tens of thousands of patients dealing with neurological disorders.
Donor generosity has helped develop Cleveland Clinic's art collection.
SKRINAK FAMILY CREATES A LEGACY AFTER LIFESAVING CARE
2025 Edition
FInancial, estate and gift planning insights
The Pyramid Legacy Society honors and shows appreciation for our friends and supporters whose commitment to the future of medicine has led them to create planned gifts to Cleveland Clinic.
Learn more
9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 | 800.223.2273 | © 2024 Cleveland Clinic. All Rights Reserved.
From Patient to Philanthropist
After Cleveland Clinic successfully treated three major health issues, Knoxville resident Bob Page honored his wife through a gift annuity supporting neurological care—leaving a legacy of gratitude, hope and healing for future patients. READ MORE
2025 CRILE AWARD
A Legacy of Love and Kindness
Scott and Karen Fitzpatrick were honored with the 2025 George W. Crile Sr. Award for their decades of generosity, volunteerism and lasting impact at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital and beyond. READ MORE
GIFT PLANNING
Oklahoma Couple's Gift Will Support Lung Transplant Patients
After a lifesaving lung transplant, Dennis and Elaine Stell made a gift supporting research in honor of Dennis’s physician by including Cleveland Clinic in their estate plans. READ MORE
“By collaborating with your advisors early, you can create a lasting impact through strategic philanthropic planning and purposeful action. Working together, we can help align your wealth with your values, empowering you to support organizations like Cleveland Clinic that are making a meaningful difference in our communities.”
— Christine Millen, VP, Wealth Advisor, Bernstein Private Wealth Management
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For Professional Advisors
Whether you’re an estate planner, attorney or financial advisor, there are many ways to include Cleveland Clinic in your client’s personal philanthropic plans. Learn how you can help your clients transform healthcare for our patients and shape the future of medicine around the world.
Creating a legacy after lifesaving care
A Family’s Journey of Hope, Healing and Giving Back
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> A Family’s Journey of Hope, Healing and Giving Back
It wasn’t just the medicine that left an impression. It was the small gestures—the folded washcloth animals left by cleaning staff in Kim’s hospital room, the nurses who brought hope during their darkest days and seeing firsthand that every patient was cared for with respect and dignity. Liz says their experience revealed not only the depth of Cleveland Clinic’s medical excellence, but a culture of humanity and innovation. “From the C-suite to the lab techs drawing blood, there’s a pervasive attitude of hope,” she says. “Everyone we’ve met believes they’re working at the best medical institution in the world—and they give back to the organization, taking part in VeloSano to raise money for cancer research at Cleveland Clinic. Not every hospital has that level of loyalty and commitment.” Inspired by this commitment—and especially by the care of Kim’s oncologist, Betty Hamilton, MD—the Skrinaks designated Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary of their trust, leaving a legacy of their own commitment and becoming members of the Pyramid Legacy Society. Their gift supports patient care and research for patients with blood cancers in honor of Dr. Hamiliton. They say their giving is fueled by unquantifiable gratitude and a desire to help other families who may be facing similar health challenges.“We’ve seen firsthand that innovation takes more than insurance reimbursements,” Liz says. “It takes donors. It takes belief. It takes a community. That’s why we give back.” The belief that caregivers at Cleveland Clinic can change lives is what drives the Skrinak’s giving. “It’s been hard with all of these cancer diagnoses in our family, but we have so much hope and a deep conviction that Cleveland Clinic is going to be able to change people’s lives, that people are going to live not only longer lives, but healthier and happier lives,” Liz says. “It takes a concerted, persistent effort to do that.” Nikki is now doing well, and Kim continues to receive care, supported by a team that coordinates across locations to minimize travel. “We still talk to his doctor every week,” Liz says, “and every time we leave Cleveland Clinic, we leave with hope.”
Nikki Skrinak and Kim Skrinak were both diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
"It’s been hard with all of these cancer diagnoses in our family, but we have so much hope and a deep conviction that Cleveland Clinic is going to be able to change people’s lives, that people are going to live not only longer lives, but healthier and happier lives. It takes a concerted, persistent effort to do that.”
When cancer runs in your family, the pain, uncertainty and courage required to face a cancer diagnosis may be familiar, but it never gets easier. For the Skrinak family of Ohio, cancer struck not once, but twice —within six months. In late 2019, Liz and Kim Skrinak’s young adult daughter, Nikki, a new mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer while living and working in El Paso, Texas. Just weeks before her mastectomy, Nikki’s father, Kim, an international airline pilot, began suffering from night sweats and weight loss. “We were both dropping weight—from stress, from fear for Nikki,” Liz says. “I was terrified he had tuberculosis.” When they went to the doctor, to their surprise, Kim was diagnosed with acute leukemia. “I was sobbing,” Liz says. “It was raining outside, but I was crying harder than the rain.” The family found themselves split between two major medical centers—their daughter in Houston, Kim at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, where he needed immediate, intensive chemotherapy to save his life. “The doctor told us he had about two weeks without treatment,” Liz recalls. “We packed a bag that night. He was admitted immediately.” Then, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim needed a bone marrow transplant. To receive the transplant, his immune system needed to be suppressed to zero. As hospitals began canceling and postponing procedures around the country, Liz says Cleveland Clinic stood firm in its commitment to continue Kim’s care. His donor stem cells were flown in from Germany and cryogenically preserved, then scientifically thawed and transplanted. Cleveland Clinic was one of the few facilities in the world prepared to perform such a complex transplant. The Skrinaks express their gratitude for the level of care Kim received during such a challenging time. “My husband has had some incredibly complex issues,” Liz says, “but every time—every single time—there’s been someone at Cleveland Clinic who knows what to do.”
— Liz Skrinak
Past Crile Award Winners
Named for one of the four founders of Cleveland Clinic, the George W. Crile, Sr. Award recognizes extraordinary service, long-standing generosity and a legacy commitment to Cleveland Clinic. Known for his imagination, creativity and innovation, Dr. Crile was a driving force behind the medical excellence that continues at Cleveland Clinic today.
The Skrinak family (from left) Elizabeth (Liz) Skrinak, Krystyn Skrinak, Nikki Skrinak, Cristobal Rivera, Kim Skrinak
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Our experienced Gift Planning team works with you and your advisor to select the donation option that best meets your personal and philanthropic goals. Learn more about the many ways to make a legacy gift on our Gift Planning website.
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9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 | 800.223.2273 | © 2023 Cleveland Clinic. All Rights Reserved.
Recipients of the George W. Crile, Sr. Award
2003 Melvin H. Burkhardt* 2004 Jack J. Belcher 2004 E. Bruce* and Virginia R.* Chaney 2005 Josephine Haywood* 2006 Rose Mary Kubik* 2007 Howard* and Marjorie* Fosler 2008 Chuck Clark* 2009 Tom Kay* 2010 Margaret Whittemore 2011 Audrey* and Hubert* Kleasen 2012 Joan Repp* 2013 Richard T.* and Marjorie E.* Garrett
2014 Bertram* and Alice* Lefkowich 2015 Norma and Albert* Geller 2016 Mark Maynard 2017 Susan Coyne* 2018 Salma and Sam Gibara 2019 David and Jan* Logsdon 2020 Paul Offutt 2021 Carole and Robert Hartless 2022 Jeanette Grasselli Brown 2023 Jan P. Jones Artz and Dr. Sheldon "Shelly" Artz* 2024 Robert “Bob” and Carol* Weissman
*Deceased
new 2025 pyramid members
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> Pyramid Legacy Society
"When an estate planning attorney consults with a client who displays charitable intentions, it is the attorney’s duty to discuss potential gift options. For many clients, there is no better place to make a difference than Cleveland Clinic, working with the Gift Planning Team.”
The Pyramid Legacy Society honors friends, patients and alumni who include Cleveland Clinic as part of their legacy. Our Legacy Society members support Cleveland Clinic through gifts in wills or trusts; life-income gifts like annuities or charitable remainder trusts; lead trusts; naming Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary of life insurance policies or retirement plans; or making estate-backed pledges. We are deeply grateful to our Pyramid Legacy Society members, whose generosity helps transform healthcare for future generations. Together, we are making a positive impact on the lives of the patients and communities we serve.
— Robert J. Bux, Attorney at Law Williams and Batchelder
The Scully Welsh Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital has received the gift of music, thanks to Doris Hall’s generous donation of a Young Chang baby grand player piano. Donated through Answer to Cancer Grand Harbor, the piano now fills the lobby with joy and a sense of healing. At the time of the donation, Hall shared, “It’s going somewhere it will mean something—and it has.”
The Pyramid Legacy Society honors those who have made planned gifts to Cleveland Clinic, expressing deep gratitude for their commitment to advancing medicine and inspiring others to support our mission of the highest-quality patient care, research, and education.
9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 | 800.223.2273 | © 2025 Cleveland Clinic. All Rights Reserved.
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Email us: giftplanning@ccf.org
Lillian C. Anderson* Dr. Rollin J. Anderson* Clemont R. and Penelope S. Austin Charles and Deborah Averbook Nan S. Hwang and Steven K. Baker Juanita Bragg Siegel* Robert Joseph Bright* Linda Sue Christman* Jeffrey Concepcion Richard Desich Harlan J. Diamond* John Michael “Mike” Duffy* John Harvey Erlich Scott J. and Karen A. Fitzpatrick Harry W. Fridrichsons* Roger L. Frisman Richard and Rita* Gallitto Robert and Shirley Garcowski Bill and Pattie Glavac Scott D. Gregory George H. and Linda G. Henshaw John A. Heyman Valerie Jacobs Marian Mahfood Jensen and Mark Jensen Charlotte L. Kane* Nancy J. Lambe Margaret Anne Lavanture Frank W. Lee IV and Elizabeth G. Lee Dr. and Mrs. Richard M. Loochtan John E. McGrath Stephen J. McHale Robert D. McNeil* Algernon M. and Constance B. Miller*
Dr. Houchang and Barbara Modanlou Michele Moore Nancy A. Morrissey* Michael L. and Marci J. Moses James Murphy Janet Neuman Bernadette “Bernie” Norwood* Terence A. and Dawn F. O’Neil H. Thomas and Carol N. Ostrander William and Jolyn Parker Janet C. Patterson* Mercie Peach* David* and Patricia B. Phillips Edward Pincover* Carolyn Plantamura* Bill and Denise Pridemore Gloria and David Richards Charles R. Ritley Randolph K. and Sandra L. Rolf Jeffrey Rose Dr. Isobel Rutherford Henry W. Sanchez* Charles C. Schmidt Gunter Schulz* William and Carol Seale William J. Shaffer Kim F. and Elizabeth A. Skrinak Noel T. Vander William Waldeck and Dana Morris Joe Wayne John and Vicky Weller Dale White* Steve and Carol Worthington
Bruce R. Abernathy, Jr. Bruce R. Abernathy Jr., PA Dana M. Apfelbaum, Esq. Dean Mead Minton & Moore Kathryn F. Barton, CPA, CFP Offutt Barton Schlitt CPAs Brandon A. Borgmann, Esq. Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP J. Vincent Boyle, CPA Morgan, Jacoby, Thurn, Boyle & Associates, PA Garrick Cashatt Raymond James – The Kanner Group Susan Chenault Northern Trust Marie S. Conforti, Esq. Law Offices of Marie S. Conforti P. Ross Cotherman II, CPA Rehmann Brian J. Elwell, CPA Kmetz, Elwell, Graham, CPAs Rebecca F. Emmons, Esq. Rossway Swan Patrick Alan Farrah, Esq. Wilmington Trust NA Todd W. Fennell, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA Michael J. Garavaglia, Esq. Collins Brown Barkett, Chartered Glenn Grevengoed, Esq. Glenn Grevengoed, PA Anthony P. Guettler Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA
Cleveland Clinic Allied Partners in Philanthropy 2023
New members of Allied Partners in Philanthropy are welcomed for helping clients establish philanthropic gifts to Cleveland Clinic. A special welcome for our new members representing Cleveland Clinic Indian River.
Troy B. Hafner, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA Todd Heckman Estate Planning Advisors Beckett C. Horner Block & Scarpa Mike Kanner Raymond James – The Kanner Group William N. Kirk, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA Michael L. Kmetz, CPA, PFS Kmetz, Elwell, Graham, CPAs Keith Lambert Raymond James – The Kanner Group Justin K. Larson, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA E. Steven Lauer, Esq. E. Steven Lauer, PA Ronald Keith Lawn, JD, LLM Lawn & LeBlanc, Attorneys at Law Stephanie M. LeBlanc, JD, LLM Lawn & LeBlanc, Attorneys at Law Thomas C. Lee, Esq. Gunster Lawrence Y. Leonard, Esq. Campione, Campione & Leonard, PA Robin A. Lloyd Sr., JD Robin Lloyd & Associates Melissa Medlock, CPA Melissa Medlock, CPA, PA John E. Moore, III Dean Mead Minton & Moore
Scott Nuttall Nuttall, Donini & Associates CPAs David L. Osgood, AWMA Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Jennifer D. Peshke, Esq. Law Offices of Jennifer D. Peshke, PA Dean C. Phillips, AAMS Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Dillon L. Roberts, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA Matthew Rundels Northern Trust William F. Schlitt, CPA Offutt Barton Schlitt CPAs Brian M. Shambo, CFP Merrill Lynch – Shambo, Schwibner & Associates Jeffrey J. Spina-Jennings, Esq. Gould Cooksey Fennell, PA William J. Stewart, Esq. Rossway Swan Michael J. Swan, Esq. Rossway Swan Andrea B. Thurn, CPA Morgan, Jacoby, Thurn, Boyle & Associates, PA Sue Tompkins Warren Capital Management David H. Walker, CFP Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Mark C. White, Esq. Andrew W. Williams Colton, Williams, & Reamy CPAs
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> Pyramid Legacy Society
2024 Edition
Scott and Karen Fitzpatrick honored with 2025 George W. Crile Sr. Award
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> A Legacy of Love and Kindness
In recognition of Berman’s planned gift, Cleveland Clinic celebrated the dedication of the Gene A. Berman Lobby in Weston Hospital’s emergency department and welcomed him as a member of the 1921 Society and the Pyramid Legacy Society. “My mother was a volunteer with many organizations when I was growing up and was always sought out for leadership positions,” recalls Berman. “My father was a decorated World War II veteran and loved to volunteer at the veterans hospital in Long Beach after he retired.” Their example has lived on through their son. “As my father was fond of saying, ‘Any day I can wake up and do something nice for others is a good day’ — a philosophy we should all subscribe to,” says Berman.
"Scotty" the germ-eliminating robot disinfects patient areas at Mercy Hospital thanks to a generous donation from the FItzpatricks.
"Blended giving provides our clients a lot of flexibility in how they choose to support organizations. Gene appreciated being able to provide both immediate and future financial support through his donor-advised fund, and the Gift Planning Team at Cleveland Clinic made it such an easy process.”
Scott and Karen Fitzpatrick’s dedication to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio, is unique, extending beyond the significant financial support the couple has provided over the last decade. Each has a personal connection to and a history with the hospital. Scott’s relationship with what was previously Timken Mercy Hospital began when he was a young boy delivering The Canton Repository to the hospital daily, going room to room in the early mornings before school, selling newspapers to patients. As a young adult, Scott began forging a career in real estate development under his father’s wing. William Fitzpatrick started Fitzpatrick Realty in 1946, constructing single-family houses, apartments and townhomes. Working together for more than 50 years, father and son developed, managed and owned over 1 million square feet of retail office space in the surrounding area. In the process, they formed a close bond. “It was a blessing for both of us,” Scott says. In the workplace, Scott says, he also had the good fortune of meeting the love of his life. Having earned her real estate license, Karen was seeking work in the field and was hired to work in the office. As colleagues, the two enjoyed getting to know one another. Over lunches, the professional relationship grew into a strong friendship, and with time, the friendship blossomed into a romance. The two have been together for 43 years and married for 35 years. While both are lifelong Canton residents, the Fitzpatricks have a second home in Naples, Florida, where they socialize with friends, play golf and take walks together on the beach. “We are really very fortunate to have the relationship that we have, and everything flows from that,” Karen says. The “everything” includes the generosity and compassion they share with their Canton community. For the last 25 years, Karen has volunteered at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital as a Eucharistic minister, taking Holy Communion to patients as part of the Mercy Pastoral Care program. Spurred by her Catholic faith and a commitment to helping others, she says she genuinely enjoys spending time with patients, praying with them and especially keeping company with those who don’t have loved ones visiting. She describes the experience as being extremely meaningful. The Fitzpatricks, recipients of the 2025 George W. Crile Sr. Award for their extraordinary service, long-standing generosity and a legacy of commitment to Cleveland Clinic, share a common purpose—“a mission to give back and make a difference in others’ lives,” Karen explains. Their philanthropy is a testament to their mission, having earned them membership in the 1921 Society and the Pyramid Legacy Society of Cleveland Clinic. The couple’s contributions have enabled Mercy Hospital to move forward with strategic priorities such as the renovation of an orthopedic and extended recovery unit and the Mercy Clinical Decision Unit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect Mercy Hospital’s doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals and to ensure the safety of the community, the Fitzpatricks donated to the Mercy Development Foundation for the purchase of a germ-eliminating robot—named “Scotty” in honor of Scott—that effectively and efficiently disinfects surfaces using UV light.
— Lisa A. Spada, CFP(R), CRPC(R) Senior financial advisor, Senior vice president, Investment officer Wells Fargo Advisors
Maximizing Your Impact: the Power of Blended Charitable Gifts
HOW DOES IT WORK? A blended gift combines a current, outright gift with a planned gift, such as through a will, charitable trust or charitable gift annuity. The former benefits both you and Cleveland Clinic today, while the latter offers both current and future benefits. Blended gifts allow you to see the impact of your giving today while supporting Cleveland Clinic’s mission in the future. For example, a planned gift can be added to your annual gifts of cash or stock, increasing the impact of your giving. It also provides greater tax savings and preserves wealth for you and your family. WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES? Consider using appreciated stock held for more than a year. A portion can go toward a gift now, and the rest can establish a charitable gift annuity. You’ll enjoy charitable deductions for both gifts, receive guaranteed income for life and support lifesaving research. Many people also use required annual distributions from an IRA. If you are 70½ or older, you can make a gift directly from your IRA to Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, you can name Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary of your IRA, which has tax advantages. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Blended gifts maximize the benefits of your generosity. By combining current and planned gifts, you can have a vital impact on Cleveland Clinic programs while ensuring your legacy lives on. Your contributions will support medical research, patient care and community health initiatives. Blended gifts offer flexibility and can be tailored to fit your financial situation and philanthropic goals. Cleveland Clinic’s Gift Planning Team will help you explore options and find the perfect blend that aligns with your vision. Your generosity today, combined with a planned gift, will sustain our mission for generations.
A stained-glass portrait at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital where Karen Fitzpatrick volunteers as a Eucharistic minister.
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> A Heartfelt Gift for a Healed Heart
2015 Norma and Albert* Geller 2016 Mark Maynard 2017 Susan Coyne* 2018 Salma and Sam Gibara 2019 David and Jan* Logsdon 2020 Paul Offutt 2021 Carole and Robert Hartless 2022 Jeanette Grasselli Brown* 2023 Jan P. Jones Artz and Dr. Sheldon "Shelly" Artz* 2024 Robert “Bob” and Carol* Weissman 2025 Scott and Karen Fitzpatrick
2003 Melvin H. Burkhardt* 2004 Jack J. Belcher 2004 E. Bruce* and Virginia R.* Chaney 2005 Josephine Haywood* 2006 Rose Mary Kubik* 2007 Howard* and Marjorie* Fosler 2008 Chuck Clark* 2009 Tom Kay* 2010 Margaret Whittemore 2011 Audrey* and Hubert* Kleasen 2012 Joan Repp* 2013 Richard T.* and Marjorie E.* Garrett 2014 Bertram* and Alice* Lefkowich
Additionally, the Fitzpatricks provided the lead gift for the renovation and expansion of the Mercy Cancer Center, which will be named in their honor. In keeping with their dedication to bettering the lives of others in their Canton community, Scott indicated his and Karen’s intent to leave a portion of their estate to the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Strategic Priorities Fund, ensuring that their altruism will continue making a profound impact for generations to come. The Fitzpatricks’ philanthropy has touched many lives beyond the Canton area as well. Learning that Cleveland Clinic needed funding to continue community Parkinson’s disease (PD) exercise classes, the couple stepped in to facilitate, providing three years’ worth of resources to sustain the program, which is offered in eight Northeast Ohio locations. The weekly PD-specific exercise classes, taught by physical therapists trained to address the symptoms of the disease, demonstrate ways to mitigate stiffness, imbalance, tremors and gait impairments, offering patients the opportunity to enhance their quality of life.
From Patient to Philanthropist: Creating a Legacy
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> From Patient to Philanthropist: Creating a Legacy
Bob Page with his dog Marshall
After facing three serious medical challenges in five years, Bob Page doesn’t take his health for granted. In 2018, the Knoxville, Tennessee, resident developed digestive problems that doctors in his hometown “seemed to be unable to figure out,” he said. “My friend made a call to Cleveland Clinic, and within days, I had a plan and medication that worked—and still does.” Two years later, a prostate cancer diagnosis led him back to Cleveland during the height of COVID-19 for treatment Then, in 2023, when he developed atrial flutter, he saw a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist and had an ablation procedure. “Every single person, including the parking lot attendant, impressed me as being professional and proud that they were caregivers at Cleveland Clinic,” Page said. After experiencing positive outcomes for three serious medical issues, Page knew he wanted to give back to the place that gave him so much. He decided to create a charitable gift annuity to support neurological care priorities at Cleveland Clinic in honor of his wife, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. At 78, Page sees his gift as both a personal and lasting legacy. “The annuity program gives you an opportunity to participate and be a part of Cleveland’s ongoing wonderful service,” he said. “It also lets you have some income for your lifetime, so it’s a wonderful charitable option that just fit for me.”
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> Estate Gift Fuels AI-Powered...
A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a simple agreement between you and Cleveland Clinic that will pay you and/or one other person income for life. The remaining balance will support an area within Cleveland Clinic that you choose. Bob Page was able to make his legacy gift to Cleveland Clinic through a charitable gift annuity (CGA). A CGA is a simple way to support Cleveland Clinic while receiving fixed, partially tax-free lifetime payments. Payments are based on age, backed by Cleveland Clinic’s assets and made quarterly. The most common assets to fund a CGA are cash, stock and real estate. Many of our supporters establish one or more charitable gift annuities with Cleveland Clinic. Call 216.444.1245 or send us an email at giftplanning@ccf.org to find out if a CGA is the right gift option for you.
WHAT IS A CGA?
Oklahoma Couple’s Legacy Gift Will Support Lung Transplant Patients
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> Oklahoma Couple’s Legacy Gift Will Support Lung Transplant Patients
After a career that took him across the country, retired chemical engineer Dennis Stell and his wife, Elaine, settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2016, Dennis began experiencing unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath. He urgently needed a lung transplant, but other hospitals rejected him as a candidate due to a prior heart surgery. Then he was connected with Marie Budev, DO, of Cleveland Clinic, who became his lifeline and gave the green light to perform the transplant. Dennis received his transplant in 2022. Today, he’s back in the gym, traveling and living life to the fullest. “Cleveland Clinic does healthcare the way healthcare should be,” Dennis says. “In my opinion, they are the gold standard.” Grateful for the life-changing care he received, Dennis and Elaine included Cleveland Clinic in their estate plans to support lung transplant research at Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute in honor of Dr. Budev. Aware of the financial burdens many patients face when relocating and recovering after surgery, the Stells also wanted to help ease the path to transplantation for others. By sharing their plans with the Gift Planning Team, they ensure that future patients have access to lifesaving procedures, compassionate care and leading-edge research.
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> A Gift to Advance Autism Care
Dennis and Elaine Stell
If you’ve included or are considering including Cleveland Clinic in your estate plans, here are three good reasons to let us know:
Top 3 Reasons to Share Your Legacy Gift Intentions with Cleveland Clinic
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> Top 3 Reasons to Share Your Legacy Gift Intentions with Cleveland Clinic
1. You Ensure Your Wishes Are Honored. By sharing your legacy gift intentions, we can fully understand your goals and how you want your gift to be used. Whether you’ve left a bequest through your will or trust or named Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary of a retirement or investment account, we can help ensure your plans are carried out exactly as you envision— including designating support to the area of care that matters most to you. 2. You Create a Lasting Partnership. When you share your plans, we can express our gratitude during your lifetime—and hear the story behind your decision to give. As medical discoveries and priorities evolve, we’ll also be able to keep you informed and aligned with new areas of impact that may inspire you. 3. Your Plans Remain Confidential— And Flexible. Sharing your intentions with us is completely confidential. We will never share your information with anyone outside of Cleveland Clinic. We understand that personal circumstances can change; therefore, your plans are not binding, giving you the flexibility to revise your gift at any time if needed. Let’s start the conversation. Our Gift Planning Team is here to help with sample language and guidance to make the process easy. Contact us at 216.444.1245 or email giftplanning@ccf.org.
Questions about designating Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary?
Check with your legal or financial advisor or call Cleveland Clinic’s Gift Planning Team to see if this gift vehicle is right for you and your family. We are available to assist you with a gift to Cleveland Clinic to support any aspect of our mission to care for life, research for health and educate those who serve. Call 216.444.1245 or email to giftplanning@ccf.org.
See the latest stories of how Giving Does Good at Cleveland Clinic and learn about the many ways to give and how you can make a difference in helping us transform the future of healthcare for our patients and our communities.
Check out our new Giving website!
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> Sharing Your Gift Intentions...
How Beneficiary Designations Support Cleveland Clinic’s Mission
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> How Beneficiary Designations Support Cleveland Clinic’s Mission
What is a beneficiary designation? Beneficiary designations are a straightforward way to decide where your assets will go after your lifetime. You simply name a person or organization—like Cleveland Clinic—as the recipient of funds from your accounts. Which assets can have beneficiaries? Beneficiary designations are commonly used with retirement accounts, insurance policies, investment portfolios, donor-advised funds and bank accounts. How does the process work? It’s easy. Your financial institution can provide a beneficiary form—often available online—that takes just minutes to complete. Why choose Cleveland Clinic as a beneficiary? There can be significant tax advantages. For example, retirement accounts are often taxable to your heirs, but a gift to Cleveland Clinic would be tax-free and support a cause that’s meaningful to you. What will my gift support? How your gift is used is up to you. Your gift can fuel lifesaving patient care, innovative research and education. You may also direct your gift to the area of greatest need or a program close to your heart by completing a simple gift form.
Ready to take the next step?
You’ll need Cleveland Clinic’s full legal name, address, and IRS tax identification number (available from our Gift Planning Team). We’d love to talk with you about this giving opportunity, how it fits your personal goals and the impact your gift could make at Cleveland Clinic. Questions? We’re here to help. Contact the Gift Planning Team at 216.444.1245 or giftplanning@ccf.org. Your legacy can help shape the future of healthcare for generations to come.
Pyramid 2025 Newsletter >> Tax Planning Pro Tip
With 2026 approaching, it’s important to plan for upcoming estate tax changes. Unless Congress changes it, the current federal estate tax exemption—now just under $14 million—will drop to about $7 million, potentially exposing more of your estate to taxation. Now is the time to consider charitable giving as part of your financial planning. Including Cleveland Clinic in your estate plan can reduce estate and capital gains taxes while supporting lifesaving medical research and care. Charitable bequests— via a will, trust or retirement account—allow you to leave a lasting impact on causes that matter most to you.
Tax Planning Pro-Tip
Pyramid 2024 Newsletter >> Sunsetting of Estate Taxes
We Can Help You Create Your Legacy
Pyramid 2023 Newsletter >> We Can Help You Create Your Legacy
Cleveland Clinic continues to exceed expectations as one of the world’s top hospitals. Through patient-centered care and a focus on research, our dedicated experts provide the highest-quality care to ensure excellent outcomes. We are grateful for our patients, supporters and caregivers throughout Cleveland Clinic’s worldwide enterprise who continue to make Cleveland Clinic the best place to receive care anywhere and the best place to work in healthcare. Cleveland Clinic’s Gift Planning Team can help you explore charitable giving options that make a lasting impact at Cleveland Clinic in an efficient and beneficial way for you and your family.
See the latest stories of how Giving Does Good at Cleveland Clinic and learn about the many ways to give. You can make a difference in helping us transform the future of healthcare for our patients and our communities.
Get Inspired
2023 Edition
Pyramid 2023 Newsletter >> We Can Help to Create Your Legacy
Pyramid 2023 Newsletter >> Excellent Care Sparks Desire to Give Back
Former New York resident Emilie Brady and her late husband, John, have a long history of contributing to their community through volunteer work and philanthropy. Their support of Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital was inspired by a visit to its emergency department more than 20 years ago after John suffered an allergic reaction from a bug bite. “The caregivers took such fantastic care of him that I thought, ‘I want to get involved with this hospital,’” said Mrs. Brady. Mrs. Brady joined the hospital’s volunteer organization and became its membership chair. Likewise, after his retirement in 1993, Mr. Brady donated his time to several organizations including the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department and Habitat for Humanity before his passing on August 16, 2023. In addition to the Bradys’ shared passion for volunteer work, they decided to contribute to Indian River Hospital’s mission through charitable gift annuities. Since 2012, the Bradys have given six charitable gift annuities to the Indian River Hospital Foundation. “We give from our heart,” said Mr. Brady. “It’s important to support your local hospital because donations allow the hospital to grow and attract the best doctors. Best of all, the whole community can reap the benefits of receiving quality care.”
Funding Joy One ‘Tail’ at a Time
Pyramid 2023 Newsletter >> Funding Joy One 'Tail' at a Time
Through a blended gift — a combination of a current gift and a legacy gift — to Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Gerry and Diane Wendel have been able to share their passion for finding creative ways to improve the lives of children. Most recently, during a stay at Cleveland Clinic, the Wendels met Kid and Trotter, Cleveland Clinic Children’s golden retriever facility dogs. “It was love at first sight,” said Diane. Upon seeing the joy the dogs brought to the kids receiving treatment, they decided to contribute to the facility dog program too. "A child who is going through an infusion sitting and petting a beautiful golden retriever and as a result not being concerned so much about the infusion — you can see that result,” Gerry said. “You can see that you’re making a difference in people’s lives, and that’s where we get the most joy. A true act of giving is to be able to give and ask for nothing in return but that joy.”
