Celebrate Philanthropic Women in Our Communities
August 31, 2007
Women are pouring money into causes they believe in as they join the ranks of the rich and powerful. Star female philanthropists like Oprah Winfrey and eBay CEO Meg Whitman have donated millions to charitable organizations.
In addition to well-known, generous women, other less-recognized heroes have helped improve countless lives by giving their time and effort to build charitable organizations.
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, winner of multiple Olympic medals in the heptathlon, plays a major role helping kids in the East St. Louis, Ill., neighborhood where she grew up. In 1986 she started the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation with the goal of building a new youth center. The foundation raised more than $12 million, and the 41,000-square-foot Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center opened in 2000. "I have a passion to give and have always wanted to give back to the community that gave me so much," she said.
More than a million runners and walkers took part in the Komen Race for the Cure last year. It is the brainchild of Nancy Brinker, who started the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1982 after losing her sister, Susan Komen, to breast cancer. Brinker has been working tirelessly to help eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
If these women's stories inspire you to make a positive impact on others' lives, don't be intimidated. You, too, can be a hero just by following the example set by the local women pictured above. They have all made a concious effort and choice to make a difference in the healthcare provided to the citizens of Sidney and Shelby County by including Wilson Memorial Hospital in their estate plans. Call us to find charitable options that will benefit others and yourself.