Lessons in Parenting - Lee Memorial Health System

November 2009
Lessons in
Parenting
Treating the
Emotions, Too
A Children’s Hospital program
saves lives and prevents injuries
and illnesses
Regional Cancer Center
includes spiritual support
along with topnotch
cancer care
Force for Good
How Joe Zivic has inspired
and helped numerous
cancer patients
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Contents
Features
in Parenting
4 Lessons
Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Children’s
Health Advocacy and Prevention Program (CHAP)
helps Collier County children.
4
7 Regional Cancer Center’s all-inclusive treatment
Your Emotional Needs Count, Too
provides spiritual and emotional support.
Giving: A Force for Good
10 Impact
Health crises have inspired Joe Zivic to help untold
numbers of cancer patients.
LMHS FOUNDATION OFFICERS
Amanda Cross, Chairperson
Brent Crawford, Vice Chairperson
Jeffrey L. Green, Treasurer
David M. Platt, Secretary
Richard E. Beightol
John Blais
Linda Brown, ARNP
W. David Bunce
Joseph R. Catti
Robert Galloway
John Gleeson
Nora Harmon
Frank Haskell
Elaine Hawkins
Jack Hess
William N. Horowitz
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John J. Iacuone, MD, FAAP
Every Issue
Charles K. Idelson
Gary L. Israel
Chip Lesch
Care:
3 Advanced
Big-City Treatment—Right Here
The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s
Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Program provides
world-class care.
& Places
12 Faces
Sightings at Lee Memorial fundraisers and functions.
Evelyn Neill
James W. Orr, Jr., MD
Michael B. Peceri
Garrett Reasoner
Guy F. Rhoades
Alexander Roulston
Anna Lou Sonderman
Julie K. Smith
Madeleine Taeni
Matters
14 Giving
Giving Through a Will
Your Calendar
15 Mark
Dinners, parties and more: Events you won’t want
Stuart Zaikov
Joseph D. Zaks
Jim Nathan
LMHS President/CEO
to miss.
LMHS FOUNDATION PRODUCTION STAFF
Word: Meet the Cuddlers
16 Last
Cuddler volunteers help babies at The Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida.
On the cover: Debbie Popick of Collier County with her daughter, Alexis.
Photograph by Nancy DeNike.
Sharon MacDonald, Chief Foundation Officer
Ken Shoriak, Foundation Director of Operations
Jeannie Cummings, Foundation Director of Marketing
9800 S. HealthPark Drive, Suite 210, Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 985-3550 www.LeeMemorial.org/Foundation
The Gift is a quarterly publication of the Lee Memorial Health
System Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.
For more information or to make a donation,
please call the Foundation office at (239) 985-3550.
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A DVA N C E D
CARE
Big-City Treatment—
Right Here
By Ken Shoriak, CFRE
The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Pediatric
Oncology/Hematology Program provides world-class care.
You don’t have to travel to a major metropolitan hospital to receive topnotch, state-of-the-art care in the finest facilities. The Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida’s Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Program is one of just
11 state-designated centers of its type.
The program, established in 1997, offers world-class care just a stone’s throw from
most residents of Southwest Florida. The center is certified nationally by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) through the National Cancer Institute, joining
other such designated institutions as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in
New York City and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
COG designation means patients can receive the services and access to clinical
trials that one would only expect to find in larger institutions located in major
cities. This includes access to advanced therapies and the collective expertise
of world-renowned specialists.
As the only facility in our area bearing this designation, the center serves as a
beacon of hope for the 40 to 50 young patients typically diagnosed each year.
Both inpatient and outpatient treatment is provided regardless of ability to
pay, thanks in large part to philanthropy, local community support and fundraisers sponsored throughout the community.
One such fundraiser is the “Helping Kids with Cancer” Radiothon each
October. Sponsored through the generosity of Clear Channel Radio, the
daylong remote broadcast on Cat Country 107.1 beams stories of hope and
caring to sympathetic listeners who call in pledges that literally help save lives.
Oncology patient Ethan Hoover receives treatment
at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
Miromar Outlets in Estero annually joins forces with Clear Channel by serving
as a most gracious host for the Radiothon. Miromar management provides use
of their beautiful facility free of charge, takes a lead role in logistical tasks that
make the event go off without a hitch and even takes time to canvass stores to
secure donations for the event, including food and drink for event volunteers.
Providing world-class pediatric oncology and hematology treatment to those
in need is no easy task considering that The Children’s Hospital of Southwest
Florida receives no direct taxpayer support to fulfill its lifesaving mission.
Thankfully, the generosity of community partners such as Clear Channel
Radio and Miromar Outlets helps The Children’s Hospital provide lifesaving
care to those who desperately need—and deserve—such care.
To learn how you can join Clear Channel Radio, Miromar Outlets and other
community partners dedicated to helping local children who need hospital
care, call the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation at (239) 985-3550. G
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Photograph by Sebastien Girard
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Lessons
in Parenting
Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Children’s
Health Advocacy and Prevention Program (CHAP)
helps Collier County children. By Betty Parker
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After the birth of her first child,
Debbie Popick of Collier County
found herself in a situation that’s not
unusual in Southwest Florida. Far
from family who could offer advice
for raising her new daughter, Popick
struggled for insight and guidance on
how to be the best parent possible.
“When you’re pregnant, there are
so many resources and classes about
being pregnant and about childbirth,” says the 41-year-old mom.
“But after the baby arrives and you
go home, you’re on your own. They
don’t have that same kind of support
for new parents.”
So when she saw an ad for free
parenting classes offered through a
trusted source, she signed up immediately for the weekly classes at
The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Children’s Health
Advocacy and Prevention Program
(CHAP). Classes are facilitated by the
experienced staff of The Children’s
Advocacy Center of Collier County.
“You tell people you’re taking a
parenting class and they look at
you funny, like why would you do
that?” Popick relates. “But my feeling is, why wouldn’t you? If there’s
anything I can learn to better my
parenting skills, I’ll do it. And I take
something away from every class, not
just a new technique or how to do
something better, which I do learn,
but I also leave feeling rejuvenated
and motivated, wanting to do
even better.”
That response is typical from the
more than 400 parents who’ve
taken the classes since they started in
September 2008, says Michele King,
director of child advocacy programs
at LMHS. “The response to this program has been fantastic,” King says,
adding that she initially wondered
how many would show up for the
classes, even though they’re free.
Opposite page: Parenting class participants
Debbie Popick, with daughter Alexis (top left),
and Loriann Beall, with daughter Haiele (top right).
Instructor Terry Delgado offers tips on dealing
with childhood behaviors.
Court-ordered classes have been
available for years, but offering the
classes on a voluntary basis broke
new ground, she says. “People are
busy, and so many people think they
just instinctively know how to be a
parent,” King says. “But the response
has shown there’s a real hunger out
there for help. Not only do they sign
up to attend, many parents have a
perfect attendance record” for the
course that meets for about 2 1/2
hours, one day a week for eight weeks.
hose classes are just one
of three major components of CHAP, which
is committed to improving children’s health
and safety in Collier
County. CHAP would
not be possible without the generous
support of the Naples Winter Wine
Festival, which has raised $74 million
in nine years and is the most successful wine charity event in the world.
The Naples Children and Education
Foundation, founder of the festival,
supports charitable programs that
improve the lives of underprivileged
or at-risk children in Collier County.
They are committed to making a
profound and sustaining difference
in the quality of life of children.
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munity partners. Key among them
is the Children’s Advocacy Center
of Collier County, which in addition
to facilitating classes, also provides
office space and a “home base” for
staffers. “We wanted to provide the
best use of all available resources to
help the greatest number of Collier
County families,” King says.
Health education classes are provided free of charge to elementary
schools and include a program called
“Germaine the Germ Thing,” which
teaches kids about germs and the importance of cleanliness and thorough
hand washing—with interactive,
“practice” sessions so they get a feel
for how long an effective washing
takes (about as long as it takes to sing
Row, Row, Row Your Boat).
“Mission Nutrition,” another class,
discusses fitness, healthy foods
and proper serving sizes. All the
programs meet Sunshine State
standards set by the Florida Department of Education, and cooperation with Collier County’s school
system means teachers can invite the
instructors into their classes and be
assured of a quality experience and
maximum benefits.
CHAP’s other two components are
health education classes for elementary school children, and a child passenger safety program that teaches
parents how to effectively install and
use child car seats. The techniques
and methods are different in each
program, but the goal is prevention
of illness and injury—so much better,
and more cost-effective, than treatment after a crisis occurs.
CHAP activities are modeled after
similar, ongoing classes in Lee County,
funded through the Prendergast
Family Endowment Fund. Although
hospital officials knew there was
a need in Collier, funding was a
roadblock—until the grants came
through from the Naples Children
and Education Foundation. The
program brings together many com-
Above: Jessica Jeffries of Naples picks up tips at a
recent parenting class.
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Photographs by Nancy DeNike
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Buckle
Up Your
Baby
Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida certified
child passenger safety technicians teach parents to
keep their children safe on the road. By Betty Parker
The value and safeguards of a car seat for the littlest passengers is widely
accepted. But for the car seats to save lives and prevent injury as intended, they
must be properly installed.
That’s where so many parents, well-meaning but unskilled, fall short. “About 98
percent of the car seats we inspect are wrong for the car, wrong for the child or
improperly installed,” says Brenda Hernandez, certified child passenger safety
technician. She offers free instruction and installation help in Collier County as part
of The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Children’s Health Advocacy and
Prevention Program (CHAP) activities.
Funded through a grant from the Naples Children and Education Foundation,
Hernandez has a full-time job dealing with correct car seat use. Since she started in
September 2008, she has helped more than 300 families ensure their children’s car
seats work as intended. Kohl’s Department Store also provides financial support to
make program services possible.
Her services are free for parents who make an appointment at one of the several
locations she visits each week, such as churches and pre-schools in Immokalee
and her home base at the Children’s Advocacy Center, 1036 Sixth Ave. N., Naples.
“It usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes,” Hernandez says, explaining that she
requires the parents to do much of the actual work—not just watch—while she supervises. “We want the parents to be able to do it themselves, because they often
will use the seat in different cars,” she says. “If they can do it themselves, at first with
my help, that’s better than just having them watch me install it.”
More than 6,200 students have participated in the classes, and teachers’
are enthusiastic about how well the
special programs resonate with the
children. The parenting classes also
produce measurable results, King
says. Each parent completes preand post-tests to measure parenting
and child-rearing attitudes and to
gauge improvement.
eing able to make such
clear-cut, visible improvements—things that can
truly mean lives saved
and injuries and illnesses
prevented—makes a big
different to those involved
with the program. “It’s difficult to
measure prevention, or to know
how many bad things don’t happen
because of what the parents learn,”
she says. “But you can see very clearly
from their responses on their final
class evaluations that they’ve learned
a lot about different, better ways to
handle difficult situations.” G
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The Bottom Line
To help support services at The Children’s
Hospital’s Children’s Health Advocacy
and Prevention Program, simply return
the envelope included with this issue of
The Gift along with your donation,
or call the Lee Memorial Health System
In addition to seeing improperly installed seats, she often sees seats being used after
they’ve been outgrown, or a tiny baby strapped into a seat that’s too big. “A bad fit
can be just as dangerous as no car seat,” Hernandez explains. She also explains the
need for booster seats, used by children usually between the ages of four and eight,
and can help parents find the appropriate seat for their child. When finances are a
problem, the program may be able to supply seats at reduced prices.
Foundation office at (239) 985-3550
to explore other ways to support this
unique program.
Hernandez, an Immokalee native who graduated from Florida State University with
a degree in social work, says her current job was not one of her early career goals.
“I’d never thought about it until I learned about this job,” she says with a laugh. “But
my goal always was to work with children and families, to help improve their lives
any way I could, and give back to the community. In this job, I know I’m helping
make these children safer, and helping prevent some terrible tragedies for the
families. I think it’s a wonderful service.” G
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Your Emotional
Needs Count, Too
Regional Cancer Center’s all-inclusive treatment
provides spiritual and emotional support. By Betty Parker
When Mary Ann Elder received her diagnosis of endometrial cancer, the clinical social worker
knew she was facing the battle of, and for, her life. But in addition to the intense medical treatment
targeting the disease, Elder believed in a mind-body connection; the importance of emotional and
spiritual work alongside the physical.
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Photographs by Nancy DeNike
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he found all that, and
more, in one place: Lee
Memorial Health System’s Regional Cancer
Center, a place designed
not only for healing, but
for hope. “It’s so wonderful having everything right there
in one building,” says Elder, a Cape
Coral resident who can go from
doctor visits to massage therapy to
yoga to journaling classes and more
in the 63,000-square-foot building that opened in October 2008 in
Fort Myers. “It feels good just to be
there. There are so many thoughtful
touches, it makes it a real sanctuary.”
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Peggy Rodriguez, a breast cancer
patient from Lehigh Acres, brings
her family along to the center, near
the intersection of Colonial Boulevard
and Interstate 75. “My family loves
to see the healing garden. They’ll
walk through there and the labyrinth
while I’m seeing the doctors. The kids
love the fountains, and we can all get
something to eat at the snack bar. If
you have to go through something
like this, it’s so nice to go somewhere
where you’re not a number.”
After her doctor advised massage
therapy, Rodriguez started regular
visits to Tess Oakes, who’s specially
trained in oncology massage and has
a space at the center. “That’s my little
piece of heaven,” Rodriguez says with
a laugh. “Being able to have so many
needs met in one place is almost unbelievable, especially when the whole
place is such a pleasure to visit.”
That was the whole idea, says Sharon
MacDonald, vice president of oncology services for LMHS, and the force
behind the 10-year project that
brought the center from concept to
reality. “We wanted the whole package
to support the patient,” MacDonald
says. “The concept was to get as
many services for cancer patients in
one building as possible, so the patient’s energy can go toward healing
and not be spent running from office
to office.”
Along with that was the plan to make
the center a peaceful, relaxing place
to be. “We wanted a place that could
serve as an escape, a place people
could come and really feel better being here,” MacDonald says. Helping
promote that goal is the lush plant life
inside—no artificial plants allowed—
the beautiful artwork on the walls, and
the colors and lighting that all work to
create a restful environment.
It could not have happened, though,
without the cooperation of the doctors who are partners in the project,
MacDonald says: 21st Century Oncology, Florida Gynecologic Oncology and Florida Cancer Specialists.
All have offices on site, making it a
place where people who have cancer
but don’t have to be hospitalized can
find services they may not have ever
dreamed of needing.
Along with the medical treatment
and offices, Lindy French runs a shop
that provides many special items for
cancer patients, such as wigs and
clothing, along with a library of related books for purchase, lending or
even just flipping through in one of
the comfortable chairs provided.
“I love working with the women,”
French says. “No one wants to give
up her hair, but if that’s what has to
happen, then a wig can be the next
best thing. I want them to walk out
of here confident they look good.”
That kind of confidence is important
to cancer patients, says MacDonald.
“So many patients feel like their
lives are redefined by this disease.
We want to give them some control,
some ways to think beyond the next
doctor’s appointment, whether it’s by
writing in a journal, watching birds
in the sanctuary next door, or yoga
classes.” There are also counselors
to help patients navigate the health
care system, and to work with family
members who are also involved with
the disease, though in different ways
than the patient.
Being able to have so many needs met in one
“
place is almost unbelievable, especially when
the whole place is such a pleasure to visit.”
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Don’t
Go It
Alone
There’s little doubt of the need:
Between 200 and 250 patients visit
the center each day; about 8,000
patients took advantage of its services
in the first year. And cancer rates are
expected to double by 2050, MacDonald says, partly because people
are living longer and the probability
goes up with age. “Unfortunately
there will always be a need, and that
need is growing,” she says.
But when MacDonald hears patients
like Elder and Rodriguez talk about
how valuable the center’s services are,
and how it provides such an escape
from the demands of the disease,
she says, “That means we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.” G
The Bottom Line
For information on how your business
Grants provide Regional Cancer Center
patients with expert “navigators” to guide
them through treatment. By Betty Parker
Many of the special services offered to patients at Lee Memorial Health
System’s Regional Cancer Center would not be possible without the generosity
and involvement of community donors and local organizations. Such gifts come
in all sizes and in a variety that many people would never dream of—but their help
makes a tremendous difference in the lives of people battling illness.
Two key grant sources—From Our Hearts and Susan G. Komen For The Cure
Southwest Florida—help show the range of assistance provided. From Our Hearts
is a Pine Island-based group that raises money to help women from specific ZIP
codes, including Pine Island, Matlacha and parts of north Cape Coral, says Dara
Leichter, a registered nurse at the Regional Cancer Center specially trained in
breast cancer care.
Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida—part of the national organization that spotlights
fundraising for breast cancer research and other help—targets the five-county
Southwest Florida region, providing money for breast cancer screening, diagnostic
procedures, treatment and other needs, such as doctor visits or wigs, Leichter says.
Similar support from the Belk Foundation can also be called upon as needed.
Key to the programs is Leichter’s work as a “breast cancer navigator”—someone
who helps explain what’s being done, answers questions and develops questions
for the doctor; helps find special services or items such as clothing; helps deal with
family members who are also suffering and a myriad of other issues that can arise
when treatment is foremost in the patient’s mind.
or organization can join in to support
Lee Memorial Health System’s
Regional Cancer Center and its
lifesaving mission, call the LMHS
Foundation at (239) 985-3550.
A variety of partnership opportunities
are available and can be custom-tailored
to meet your needs.
“Basically, we help people get through the maze of health care and help provide
educational material for patients,” says Leichter. “One minute I may be working
with a snowbird who was diagnosed up North and wants to know about care
here during the winter, and the next I may be helping a woman find the best
prosthetic bra.”
While she specializes in breast cancer, another navigator works with patients who
have lung or brain cancer, all at no charge. “The navigators are experts in their
field and at knowing what resources are available to help people,” says Sharon
MacDonald, vice president of oncology services for Lee Memorial Health System.
“They’re an important part of the whole package we have here to support the
patient, and we’re able to do this because of the generosity and understanding
of our grant partners in the community.” G
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I M PA C T
GIVING
A Force for Good
Health crises have inspired Joe Zivic to
help untold numbers of cancer patients.
By Betty Parker
Predicting what lay ahead in the life of Joe Zivic, not just in childhood,
but even in midlife and retirement, would have challenged even the most
skilled prognosticator. Twists and turns, love and loss, were constant factors;
hurdles followed by accomplishments followed by tragedy and recovery.
Above right: Joe Zivic. Above: The Regional Cancer
Center meditation room named in honor of Joe
Zivic’s late wife.
Now, however, one thing is certain: Zivic, through his generosity to Lee
Memorial Health System’s Regional Cancer Center, is helping an untold
number of patients and families going through the same crises he and his
family faced—and doing it with the same down-to-earth attitude that’s
carried him through the years.
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“My business did well, and my family
is taken care of,” says Zivic, a south
Lee County resident. “It was time
for me to do something for the community, to help others and honor my
wife,” Marcia, who died of a brain
tumor in 1996.
and I insisted that they operate,” Zivic
says. “They got it early. I never had
chemo.” The couple, married for 45
years, were in the same hospital at the
same time. Joe had a full recovery;
Marcia succumbed five months after
her diagnosis.
But to better understand what drives
Zivic, look back to his childhood in
Pittsburgh. At five, he lost his father
to cancer. At 11, he lost his mother,
who perished while trying to save
others from a burning building.
Zivic was raised by family, especially
his older sister.
ivic moved to Lee
County full-time soon
afterward. He was
already familiar with
the area, having bought
a sheet metal plant in
Fort Myers almost 10
years earlier. The couple had visited
in winters, “but being an absentee
owner never really worked,” says
Zivic, who divested himself of the
plant a few years after buying it.
“I never made it to college,” he says.
“I never even graduated from high
school. We needed money, so I went
to work” in the city’s legendary steel
industry. At age 21, he was shop foreman, and by 1960, plant manager.
All that time Marcia was at his side.
“She was 16 and I was 18 when we
met,” Zivic says. “Two years later,
we were married.”
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He loved fishing and boating, so the
move was a natural. He chose The
Landings community partly because
it was among the few that allowed his
80-pound Doberman. It was there
that he met a neighbor, Frank Bireley,
bought after spirited bidding at a
fund-raising auction—even though
he’s a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. “You
do whatever you can,” he says with a
laugh, pointing to the trophy.
Zivic still travels extensively, taking
trips all over the world. He cites fishing in the Outer Banks, Alaska and
Costa Rica as favorites, along with
repeated trips to Croatia and a Christmas spent in Germany. “My kids gave
me a hard time about being away for
the holidays, but I enjoyed it,” says
Zivic, who’s often accompanied by
Nancy, his companion of a decade.
He sold his sports fishing boats a few
years ago, but he still swims daily
and spends no small amount of time
tending to his newest, high-energy
housemate, a mini-pin (miniature
Doberman pincher) named Tiny.
“I went to the pet store to get some
fish for the aquarium and walked out
with her,” Zivic says fondly.
Zivic is helping an untold number of patients and families
going through the same crises he and his family faced.
In 1967, they moved to Fairfax, Va.,
where Zivic bought his own small
sheet metal plant. He started with
one partner and one helper, and it
grew fast. When he bought out the
partner in 1981, they had 120 employees and an 86,000-square-foot
plant. One of his three children took
over the business in 1996.
But that year also brought even more
momentous changes for the family. Marcia, an avid golfer at age 63,
came home from a game complaining of flu-like symptoms. A doctor’s
visit brought the dreaded diagnosis of
lung cancer. “She fought hard,” Zivic
says. “The chemo was working. But
then it got in her brain…”
Unbelievably, Zivic himself was also
diagnosed with lung cancer at the
same time. His was found during
checkups following an aneurysm.
“The doctors saw a spot on my lung,
another major Lee Memorial donor
waging his own battle against cancer.
“Frank got me started with Lee
Memorial and the Cancer Center,”
Zivic recalls. “That was when they
were just starting the cancer program
for kids. I thought, ‘This is so horrible
for adults to go through, how bad
must it be for the kids?’ and I knew I
had to do something. It would help
kids and be a tribute to Marcia.”
His giving, and her tribute, have
only grown. Not only does he write
checks—including the family tradition of donating instead of exchanging Christmas presents—but he’s also
a dependable participant in fundraising projects.
One example is the star-studded
football helmet (graced with autographs of some of the biggest stars
in Miami Dolphins history) that he
Zivic seems genuinely puzzled at the
idea that people could find his story
inspirational. “There’s nothing special
about me,” he protests. But the idea of
being able to help others get through
what he’s already survived—that’s
different. “I’ve taken care of my family. Now it’s time to help take care of
others as best I can.” G
The Bottom Line
To find out how to join Joe Zivic and the
many other generous community members
supporting a wide range of Lee Memorial
Health System initiatives, call the Lee
Memorial Health System Foundation
at (239) 985-3550.
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Photographs by Nancy DeNike
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FA C E S &
PLACES
Rotary Club of Bonita Springs
Noon Provides $30,000 lead gift
to Jenn’s Kids Fund
The Jenn’s Kids Fund was established to refurbish the second
floor of The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
From left: John Iacuone, executive director, The Children’s Hospital of Southwest
Florida; Vince Modarelli of Rotary Club Bonita Springs Noon; Kathy Bridge
Liles, vice president, Women & Children’s Services; Sharon MacDonald,
chief foundation officer; Jennifer Likness, originator of Jenn’s Kids Fund;
Heather Knight of Jenn’s Kids Fund.
Robert and Frances Feuchter Endowed
Scholarships in Nursing and Health Care
Recipient Celebration
The Lee Memorial Health System provides ongoing funding
for educational scholarships to help ensure continued medical
excellence in our community.
From left: Jim Nathan, Lee Memorial Health System president; Denice Aponte-Carrasquillo,
scholarship recipient; Thomas Romano, scholarship recipient; William Waldron, donor representative for the Robert and Frances Feuchter Endowed Scholarships in Nursing and Health
Care; and Linda Brown, Lee Memorial Health System board member.
Kohl’s Cares for Kids Celebrity Reading Series
ABC-7 anchor Len Jennings stopped by The Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida to read stories and deliver books and coordinating plush
characters as part of the “Kohl’s Cares for Kids” Celebrity Reading Series.
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Cooking with Todd
Hematology and oncology patients at The Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida were treated to a very special
cooking class with Chef Todd Johnson of Rumrunners in
Cape Harbour. The “Cooking with Todd” class was a fun
lead-in event to the culinary extravaganza “Rumrunners
Celebrity Chef Night.”
From left: Mallory Oliver, Chef Todd Johnson and Sterling Wilkins-Cowart.
Rumrunners Celebrity Chef Night 2009
Left: Jace and Gena
Eddy join their mom,
Michelle, for the festivities.
Left: Ralph Centalonza, Kevin Healey, Ruthie Cohen, Todd Johnson,
Harold Balink and Norman Love.
Above: Lee Memorial Health System President Jim Nathan (on left),
shares a smile with the evening’s presenting sponsor, Barbara Watt-Biggs
of Century 21Sunbelt Realty, and her husband, Bob Biggs.
Left: Beverly and Tom
Fewster came out to
support the cause.
Above: Margie Holland (left) gets
ready for the Diamond Champange
Toast with her daughter, Emily Lyons.
Left: Children’s Hospital patient Ethan Hoover (bottom left) enjoys the
evening with his sister, Sydney, and his parents, Sean and Jennifer.
Select photos courtesy of Carol Orr Hartman.
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GIVING
MATTERS
Giving Through a Will
By Ken Shoriak, CFRE
The Bottom Line
You may want to consider using your
will to make a major gift for the future
without drawing upon assets you need
during your lifetime. For more information about the benefits of making a
donation through your will, please
call Birgit Vertesch of the LMHS
Foundation at (239) 985-3557.
How to Help...
Each year, generous donors name Lee
Memorial Health System Foundation in
their wills. The official bequest language
for The Lee Memorial Health System
Foundation is:
“I [name], of [city, state, ZIP] give,
devise and bequeath to The Lee
Memorial Health System Foundation, Inc., a Florida non-profit
corporation, located in Lee County
Florida, [written amount or percentage of the estate or description
of property] for its unrestricted use
and purpose.”
To let Lee Memorial know you’ve named
it in your plans or to request information
about its recognition society, Heritage
Circle of Friends, please call Birgit
Vertesch of the LMHS Foundation
Office at (239) 985-3557.
It happens to many people. They receive excellent care or service from
a not-for-profit organization such as Lee Memorial Health System, and want
to show their appreciation by making a large donation. However, current
financial circumstances won’t permit them to do so. This is particularly true
in today’s unpredictable economic climate.
For many people in this situation, using their will to make a bequest to the
organization may be the answer. This allows an individual to make a substantial
donation once assets are no longer needed.
There are many ways to make sure your charitable bequest to Lee Memorial
Health System Foundation fulfills your intentions and meets your needs. Be
sure to contact a qualified estate planning professional to review your many
options before making a gift.
Among the options available, you can:
◆ Will Lee Memorial outright a sum of money, specified personal or real
property, or a share of your estate’s residue.
◆ Make your gift contingent by designating that the money, property or share
is to go to some individual if that person survives you; otherwise, it is to be
distributed to Lee Memorial.
◆ Establish a charitable remainder trust, for greater tax savings, that could pay
a life income to the individual of your choice and the remaining principal to
Lee Memorial.
◆ Make gifts without limits in regard to use to allow Lee Memorial to apply
your donation to meet its most urgent needs. If you wish to designate your
gift for a specific purpose, please consult with Lee Memorial to be sure they
will be able to carry out your wishes.
◆ Establish a permanent endowment fund that will ensure your donation will
help others in perpetuity. A minimum gift of $10,000 is required.
◆ Make your bequest in honor or memory of a loved one. Lee Memorial will
be pleased to honor your intent and ensure appropriate recognition
is provided.
The provision for making a gift to Lee Memorial Health System Foundation will depend upon the type of gift
and your own circumstances. You should consult your attorney, accountant, banker, financial planner or other
trusted advisor when considering a major charitable donation. G
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November
An Evening with NFL Legend Don Shula
Nov. 12, 2009
Famed Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula will appear
at Shula’s in Naples to support local women’s cancer programs. Hosted by Naples Mayor Bill Barnett, the evening
will include Coach Shula speaking about how his successes
can be applied to today’s corporate world and an “Ask the
Coach” Q&A on the state of the NFL. Tickets are $500
per person and include cocktails, fine wines, a gourmet
dinner and the opportunity to bid on luxury items, travel
packages and memorabilia from athletes and entertainers. Net proceeds will benefit programs and treatments for
local, low-income and indigent women battling cancer.
Corporate tables and individual seats are available. Call
the Foundation office at (239) 985-3550.
Financial Planning Seminar
Nov. 17-18, 2009
Attend Lee Memorial Health System Foundation’s free
seminars to learn about changes in federal tax law, trust and
estate planning, and documents and tax saving strategies.
On Nov. 17, hear Wills, Trusts and Estate Attorney David
Platt; Certified Public Accountant Mike Miller; and Investment and Trust Advisor Terry Igo speak at the Sanibel
Community Association from 9:30-11:30 a.m. On Nov.
18, hear Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney Lowell Schoenfeld; Certified Public Accountant Craig Folk; and Certified
Financial Planner Scott White speak at HealthPark Medical
Center, Suite 1B, Fort Myers, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Call (239) 985-3550.
Holiday Teddy Tea
Nov. 27-28, 2009
The Bay House Restaurant in Naples will be hosting a
“Teddy Bear Tea” featuring wonderful food, beverages
and silent auction. Net proceeds from this adorable event
will benefit Barbara’s Friends—The Children’s Hospital
Cancer Fund. Start your season in a truly magical way by
bringing a child to this celebration of holiday giving. To
reserve a table for $450, or for information on individual
tickets, call the Foundation office at (239) 985-3550.
December
Evening of Appreciation
Dec. 1, 2009
This special evening celebrates and pays gratitude to
the many donors who make cumulative gifts of $1,000 or
more annually to support Lee Memorial Health System.
Guests will enjoy complimentary refreshments, dinner and
much more at this invitation-only event. Watch for your
invitation!
M A R K YO U R
CALENDAR
Holly Ball
Dec. 9, 2009
Join us at The Landings Helm Club for the Inaugural
Holly Ball. There will be food, music and wine courtesy of
Barefoot Wine, and live and silent auctions with wonderful
items. Event proceeds will benefit the Regional Cancer Center. Tickets are $125. For more information or to reserve your
seats, call the Foundation office at (239) 985-3550.
2010
Financial Planning Seminar
Jan. 19, 2010
Attend Lee Memorial Health System Foundation’s free
seminar from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at HealthPark Medical Center, Suite 1B, Fort Myers, to hear Wills, Trusts and Estates
Attorney Lowell Schoenfeld; Certified Public Accountant
Craig Folk; and Certified Financial Planner Scott White
discuss changes in federal tax law, trust and estate planning, and documents and tax saving strategies. Reservations are required. Call (239) 985-3550.
Northern Trust Southwest Florida
Wine & Food Fest
Feb. 26-27, 2010
A spectacular two-day event for wine enthusiasts who
enjoy coming together each year to support The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Exquisite vintner
dinners will take place in private homes from North
Fort Myers to Naples, Bonita Springs to Captiva Island,
followed the next day by a Grand Tasting and Auction
beachside at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. For more
information and tickets, call (239) 278-3900.
Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Tournament
Feb. 2010 – TBD
Join the Minnesota Twins players, coaches and
manager for the 12th annual golf tournament to benefit the
Regional Cancer Center. Call (239) 985-3550 for advanced
sponsorship and entry information.
Boston Red Sox Tee Party
Feb. 25, 2010
Join Boston Red Sox players, major league greats and
other sports celebrities at the Boston Tee Party—the kickoff to the Boston Red Sox Children’s Hospital Celebrity
Classic. This event will benefit the Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida. Call (239) 985-3550 to be a part of this
event.
17th Annual Boston Red Sox Celebrity Classic
Feb. 26, 2010
Join Boston Red Sox players, major league greats and
other sports celebrities at the 17th annual golf tournament
to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
Call (239) 985-3550 to join in this annual event.
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LAST
WO R D
Meet the
Cuddlers
Ev Reynolds of Fort Myers
(pictured right) spends six hours a
week in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit at The Children’s Hospital of
Southwest Florida. The babies she
cuddles are those of strangers, but
she nurtures them as if they were her
own grandchildren.
She and about 75 others in the
Cuddlers Volunteer Program each
spend one day a week holding sick
babies when their parents can’t be
there. They also free up nurses for
other duties. “It’s very beneficial for
the babies to be rocked and held,”
says NICU nurse Colleen Deane.
“It helps their development.”
The volunteers also help feed babies,
change diapers, do laundry, and stock
cribs and formula. “We do a lot of
different things, but surely holding
the babies is the best part,” Reynolds
says. “Handling small, fragile things
is not for everybody. But it’s a wonderful program. I wouldn’t give it up
for the world.”
Anyone interested in joining
the Cuddlers program should
call 432-3055 for information
about mandatory training and
volunteer duties. G
—Denise Scott
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Photograph by Nancy DeNike
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