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Couple’s Fund Extends Helping Hand to Disabled Patients

Maxine V. Gay coped with the crippling effects of multiple sclerosis for more than half of her 78 years, so she understood the importance of walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

 

To honor his wife, who died in 1999, Mrs. Gay’s husband, William, directed in his will that their estate become a family foundation to provide mobility equipment for patients in need. Mr. Gay passed away in 2004.

 

Carrying out Mr. Gay’s wishes fell to the couple’s nephew, Stephen Johnson of Lakewood. Needing expertise in charitable giving, Johnson worked with an attorney and Community First Foundation to move their private foundation into a Donor Advised Endowment Fund. It typically costs less to operate a fund through a community foundation than a private foundation, and Johnson can be relieved of administrative duties.

Patients

Community First Foundation worked with Stephen to make it easier for him to carry out his aunt and uncle’s wish to help others. The Foundation asked Lutheran Medical Center, where Mrs. Gay received care, and affiliated organizations to begin to identify potential grant recipients.

 

“My aunt and uncle felt fortunate that they had decent insurance that provided the walker – and then later, the wheelchair – that my aunt needed,” said Johnson. “They were moved to leave their money to benefit less fortunate people needing mobility devices in their community.”