An Impactful Conversation
An Impactful Conversation: How One Conversation Sparked a Lifetime of Impact.
For over 100 years, philanthropy and volunteerism have advanced the mission of Arkansas Children's. First as an orphanage and now as the state's only pediatric health system, philanthropic investment has fueled this transformation, which, in turn, is providing greater access to expert pediatric care to more children in Arkansas and beyond. Whether it's the volunteer that has rocked babies in the NICU, a donor that has made a financial commitment to Arkansas Children's or a grateful family who supports Arkansas Children's by sharing their story, community partners are critical to making Arkansas a safer and healthier place to be a child.
For Dale Whitman of Hot Springs, it was an invitation to volunteer at a fundraiser that sparked a decades-long desire to make a difference for children and families at Arkansas Children's.
"My interest in Arkansas Children's began in the 1990s, thanks to the Circle of Friends (COF) in Magnolia," says Dale. "Business icon and philanthropist Lois Gean Kelly hosted a Circle of Friends fundraiser and asked me to assist with the entertainment."
As a result of this volunteer experience at the COF event, Dale was invited to a soup and cornbread appreciation supper to learn more about the hospital from an Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) physician and members of the Arkansas Children's Foundation.
In a conversation with his secretary the morning of the appreciation supper, Dale learned one reason why charitable giving is so important to Arkansas Children's. During this conversation, he learned of Arkansas Children's commitment to caring for the most vulnerable children regardless of a family's ability to pay.
Dale's secretary moonlighted on the weekends as a transcriptionist at the local hospital in Magnolia. "When I mentioned my evening plans to her, she immediately exclaimed that she was glad I supported Arkansas Children's" says Dale. "She told me that when the hospital called other hospitals to request a helicopter, the first question asked was, 'Who's going to pay for this? But, when we call Arkansas Children's, that question is never asked.' I thought, I like that! At that moment, the seed which grew to my planned giving was planted."
This seed led Dale to take a tour of the hospital campus in Little Rock. He says, "Everything about the hospital really blew me out of the water. Particularly the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit), and the area … where the parents can sleep and have showers. But the thing that really impressed me was that they never asked who was going to pay when the helicopter was called."
That long-ago conversation with his secretary made a big impression on Dale. He chose to settle his philanthropic giving through his estate plans to support the Angel One Transport program, and he never looked back.
The Arkansas Children's Angel One Transport program began in 1978 with one ambulance and a mission to save premature babies from dying before they could reach the necessary critical care. Now, more than 40 years later, the Angel One team ensures no child in Arkansas is ever more than 55-minutes away from life-saving care. The Angel One fleet includes two Sikorsky S-76 D helicopters, five critical-care ground ambulances, and access to medically configured fixed-wing aircraft to transport patients as far as the east and west coasts of the United States. A typical crew consists of a pilot, a respiratory therapist and a flight nurse.
"When I had the opportunity to visit the air traffic control room, sit in an Angel One helicopter, meet the pilots, other crew and maintenance staff, I knew that the choice of my giving aim was on target," says Dale. Arkansas Children's Angel One Transport program is only possible because of the generosity of donors like Dale.
Over the years, Dale has used strategic giving methods to help maximize his philanthropic impact. Initially, Dale supported Angel One through annual gifts. A few years later, Dale funded his first charitable gift annuity, which can be an attractive, tax-savvy way for a supporter to significantly advance the work happening at Arkansas Children's. Here's how they work: You can fund a charitable gift annuity with appreciated assets and in exchange you can receive certain tax benefits immediately and an income stream for your life (or for two lives). "Funding my first gift annuity was an excellent way for a recently retired person to give," says Dale.
Additionally, other giving strategies have helped Dale align his personal financial planning with his philanthropic planning. "The easiest way to give is cash, but I have also benefited tax-wise with a gift of highly appreciated stock," says Dale. Gifting assets like real estate, stock, or other property that have increased in value can provide tax savings and can help avoid paying capital gain taxes.
The Ruth Beall Society, which is named after the second superintendent of the Arkansas Children's Home and Hospital, honors those who make Arkansas Children's part of their legacy. Part of her legacy was that no child should ever be turned away based on the cost of care. Over the years, investments made by supporters like Dale make certain that this legacy will continue for generations to come.
"Because of my commitment, I plan to leave the bulk of my estate to Arkansas Children's; if I have a quarter when I die, at least 22 cents will go to Arkansas Children's to support the air and ground transportation program."
If you are interested in learning more about ways to maximize your philanthropic impact at Arkansas Children's, please contact Jill McIlroy, Nate Looney or other members of the gift planning team at (844) 836-1314.