A Legacy of Love
By Becky McCauley
For 45 years, Dr. Richard "Dick" Jacobs provided healthcare to children, 35 of those years at Arkansas Children's. Through his long tenure as a pediatric infectious disease specialist, Dick took note of the difference philanthropy made in children's outcomes. "Ifs an amazing thing to see when you have the resources to do great things."
Dick and his wife, Penni, have been generously supporting the work at Arkansas Children's for many years. But recently, they began thinking about a way they could make "a much more meaningful gift," one that would have a major impact on kids.
ARKANSAS BORN
Both Dick and Penni hail originally from Arkadelphia, but Dick grew up in Longview, Texas, and Penni in Little Rock The couple met while in college at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. They married in 1973 and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this May.
Dick attended medical school
at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, graduating in 1977. Penni worked at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital until 1990, when she left the workforce to ready their home to adopt a child. Their son, Robert, joined the family in 1991.
Dick joined the faculty of the Department of Pediatrics in 1982 and describes the years he spent caring for children at ACH, UAMS and the Arkansas Children's Research Institute as "wonderful." Retiring in 2017, he and Penni enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, reading good books, seeing movies, cruising on the lake and pursuing their many hobbies.
A LEGACY FOR KIDS
Dick credits the advances he saw throughout his career for the couple's decision to make Arkansas Children's a beneficiary in their estate plan. When he and Penni heard about the Arkansas Children's Legacy Challenge matching gift opportunity, they knew the time had come.
"We had actually been planning to make an estate gift," says Dick
"When the Legacy Challenge came along through Arkansas Children's Foundation (ACF}, it was such an exciting opportunity. We felt like this was the time to proceed."
THEIR GIFT ALREADY AT WORK
Dick and Penni enjoyed working with ACF to put their estate gift into writing and take advantage of the Legacy Challenge.
"The people in the Foundation made our decision very easy," says Penni. "We've worked with them for many, many years, and they know we like to give. We wanted to do something larger than we had done in the past. and this was the perfect opportunity."
The Jacobs' Legacy Challenge matching funds have already been put to work at Arkansas Children's. The impact was so exciting, the couple decided "we wanted to see the outcomes and benefits of our gift in our lifetime." To that end, Dick has begun paying toward their estate pledge with his required minimum distributions.
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF CHILDREN
Working to improve kids' lives and make them healthier will continue to be important to the couple. "Penni and I are very proud to participate in the Legacy Challenge campaign and this estate gift," says Dick "But what really excites us is what it could mean for the difference in children's lives." Penni adds, "I think it comes from the heart, and you get a lot more back than you could ever give."