James M. (Jimmy) and Donna G. Smith have seen with their own eyes the outstanding care patients receive through LifeBridge Health, which is why they have included a provision in their estate plan to boost programs and services to help children and families facing hard times.
“The care and support given to my father and our family was amazing,” Jimmy says of the treatment his father received at Sinai. “It made me want to help as many families as possible.”
They are also impressed with the whole-family approach of Sinai physicians.
“We met Dr. Aziza Shad when she first came to Sinai. We were impressed with her whole-family approach to treating children and her programs to engage the children in their own treatment. The support she gives to the families touched our hearts and still does. The time we have spent in the pediatric cancer center has allowed us to see how the treatment includes both the child and the family.”
Jimmy and Donna have targeted their giving toward providing art-centered programs in the children’s cancer center.
“Art can be healing; it can be soothing, and it can be distracting,” Donna says. “We want these children and their siblings and parents to enjoy some time together outside the medical treatment they are receiving.”
They hope their gifts to LifeBridge inspire others to do likewise.
“I was raised with the understanding that if I am able to make a gift to help others, it is important and perhaps even my obligation to do so,” Jimmy says. “The joy of giving is in seeing the smile on the faces of those that we are able to help.”