Beneficiary designation is a smart financial decision that helps fight cancer

For Roger Paschke, naming Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund as a beneficiary of his retirement fund was an easy way to support an organization deeply important to him, and to honor his older sister and stem-cell donor, Riley McMahon. Roger was successfully treated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and received Riley’s donated stem-cells through a transplant at Dana-Farber in 2005.

“Without Dana-Farber’s extensive care and state-of-the-art treatment, and Riley’s lifesaving donation, I wouldn’t be here,” Roger said.

Sadly, shortly after the procedure, Riley died in a car accident. Roger and his wife, Kathryn, created a Dana-Farber fund in Riley’s name, but longed to do something more.

“We wanted to do something for Dana-Farber that would have a lasting impact,” Roger said.

Because of his long career in investment management, Roger knew that adding Dana-Farber as a beneficiary to his retirement fund was convenient, flexible, and would not require an attorney. Without impacting the resources necessary for any family or personal needs, he would also be able to support the Dana-Farber fund in Riley’s name.

“Naming Dana-Farber as a beneficiary was appealing because we could make a gift for ongoing support in an efficient, simple fashion,” added Roger. Equally important to Roger is the long-lasting impact his gift in Riley’s name will have on the future of cancer research and care. “Riley felt so good about making the stem-cell donation and we’re keeping her spirit alive through this gift,” Roger said. “The beneficiary gift connects her memory and our support toward accomplishing Dana-Farber’s goal of eliminating cancer.” You, too, can support the future of Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s lifesaving mission with a beneficiary gift.