Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Trustees plan for their families and the future

Like many other financially savvy donors who want to make a difference far into the future, some Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Trustees are embracing the opportunity to establish charitable gift annuities (CGAs). Given that payout rates are higher than they have been in a decade, and with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund's ambitious goal to grow the Dana-Farber Society to 2,000 members, they recognize that this is a great time to create a CGA.

Jim and Barbara Sadowsky are two of those Trustees. Just a few months ago, they set up a CGA with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. While this was a new way for Jim and Barbara to champion Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s mission, they have been dedicated supporters of Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund for over 45 years.

“We first became involved with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund in 1977 when Barbara was diagnosed at the age of 27 with Hodgkins Lymphoma,” Jim said. “The following year Barbara went into remission, and we started our journey to battle cancer on a larger scale. We started a Jimmy Fund golf tournament in 1980, and with the help of other volunteers, raised almost $12 million over 40 years.

In addition, Barbara and our Jimmy Fund council friends started an event in Holyoke, Mass., which evolved into a 30-year run of the incredibly successful Chefs for Jimmy.”

The Sadowskys knew CGAs were a simple way to make a big impact and saw how they could benefit. With increased payout rates, their financial advisor suggested that it was a good time to make the gift.

“Completing the documentation was very easy and now we will enjoy the quarterly income,” Barbara said. “More importantly, Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund will benefit down the road. These CGAs and other planned gifts will help continue the incredible research and care benefiting our children and grandchildren.”

Fellow Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund Trustee, Sushil Tuli, also established a CGA. Tuli’s involvement with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund began when his late wife, Rita, underwent treatment for colon cancer at another hospital. Rita spent many hours in an infusion center and, while she was treated well, Tuli wished she had a more comforting place to spend those hours. After Rita passed away, Tuli joined the Institute’s Board and later made a gift that named an infusion bay in Rita’s honor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Chestnut Hill.

Tuli now feels a CGA is the perfect way to give, as it enables planning for his family in the future, as well as Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s future. With this gift, Tuli became a member of the Dana-Farber Society.

“I’m a true spokesperson for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund,” said Tuli. “If Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund can save somebody’s life, they’re going to save it. There is no better institution than this.”