Thanks to the generous support of the community, Saint Barnabas Medical Center has grown from a one-house hospital to a world-class campus.
A gift in your will to Saint Barnabas Medical Center will help keep your community healthy for years to come.
In 1865, Eliza Titus—a woman who had “no family or friends to care for her”—was nursed by the Ladies Society of Saint Barnabas House in Newark. In gratitude, Eliza left her small estate to the group to help found a hospital on McWhorter Street in Newark.
Eliza’s generous act set in motion a chain of events that led to the present-day Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC) in Livingston. One of the largest health care providers in the state, SBMC is home to nationally recognized facilities, including the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division, Heart Centers, Cancer Center, Burn Center, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and much more.
“We have often seen individual legacy gift s have a big impact,” says Kelly Goss, Vice President for Development at SBMC. “One person’s gift can really help to make things better for a whole community.”
YOUR GIFT, YOUR WAY
Donors can follow Eliza’s visionary spirit by including a gift to the medical center in their will. They can designate their gift based on what is personally meaningful. Some people select a specific area of interest, such as cardiology or cancer care. One donor gave specifically to fund a pet therapy program. Others choose to donate to nursing scholarships. “Many of our programs rely on philanthropy to improve and sustain an exceptional level of care,” Goss says.
Still other donors choose to leave legacy gifts unrestricted, so that the medical center can use the money as new needs arise. “No matter how it is directed, any gift you give will help keep health care in your community strong for your neighbors,” Goss says.
Creating such a legacy can be as simple as adding one sentence to your will or trust. “Many people think estate planning is just for the wealthy or elderly, but everyone should do it to ensure that their intentions for family, other loved ones and favorite charities will be fulfilled,” says Greg Ellmer, Vice President, Gift Planning, for RWJBarnabas Health.
Other key points to know about leaving a charitable legacy:
YOU HAVE CHOICES. You can leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate after your loved ones are provided for.
THERE’S NO IMMEDIATE COST. A gift will not affect your current cash flow and will allow you to maintain control of your assets.
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND. If circumstances change, you can adjust or revoke your gift.
“We understand that making a bequest is not something that gets decided casually,” Goss says. “Know that you can call us, and we’ll be happy to have a conversation about how you can have an impact on the future of Saint Barnabas Medical Center in the way that will work best for you.”
To learn more about making a bequest to Saint Barnabas Medical Center, call 973.322.4330 or visit www.sbmcgiving.org.