in honor of their son Bob and Betsy Holland were devastated after they lost their son, Ken, in a car accident more than 20 years ago. They have since channeled their energy into making a difference in Ken’s name at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. A Giving that gives back Bob and Betsy Holland made a gift in the form of a charitable lead unitrust (CLUT) to benefit Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s oncology department, which is being named the Kenneth B. Holland Oncology Unit in honor of their late son. A CLUT is a planned giving vehicle that provides income to one or more public charities for a period of time, and then distributes the trust’s principal to people chosen by the donor. The Hollands designated the hospital and also the DuPage Community Foundation as the beneficiaries of the CLUT, and their daughter, Jennifer, oversees the fund for the latter. One of the Hollands’ greatest pleasures is teaching the “pay it forward” idea to their extended family. “We have always wanted to do something for the community while we are both alive, and we learned that through the use of a CLUT we could make a difference in our lifetime as well as provide for our four grandchildren later on,” says Bob. To learn about CLUTs and other giving vehicles, please call 847.384.3422. 12 – healing gifts – Spring 2012 1988 graduate of Downers Grove South High School, Ken Holland was captain of the football and basketball teams, a National Honor Society member and recipient of the Thom McAn National Scholar/ Athlete award. “He was the kind of son I always hoped I would have,” says his father, Bob. His mother, Betsy, adds, “People said he had a smile that lit up the room. He was a friend to everyone.” Sadly, this well-rounded and popular young man never made it to his 20th birthday. It was the summer after his freshman year at DePauw University, and he was driving near his family’s Downers Grove home when another driver sped through a stop sign, crashing into Ken’s Jeep and causing it to flip over and land on top of him. Ken’s injuries were so critical that he had to be taken by helicopter to a trauma center in downtown Chicago. During the three weeks Ken was in the intensive care unit, the Hollands, along with their daughter, Jennifer, made the daily trek from their west-suburban home to the city to be by their son’s side. Adding to the tremendous stress of the situation were the surroundings. “It wasn’t a comfortable environment,” says Bob. “The waiting rooms were crowded, and there weren’t a lot of places for people to have any quiet time or relax.” They had to sleep on the floor if they wanted to spend the night. Ken’s injuries proved to be too much, and doctors were unable to save him. Devastated, Bob and Betsy chose to channel their loss and pain into something positive. In an effort to learn more about the hospital in their community, they began volunteering at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital—Bob joined its Governing Council, and Betsy joined its Auxiliary. The couple also started supporting the hospital philanthropically, teaming up with their friends Dick and Pat Mochel to fund muchneeded pediatric equipment for the hospital’s new surgical pavilion. “We’re pretty upbeat people, and Ken was really an outgoing and enthusiastic young man,” says Bob. “We know he wouldn’t want us to just sit around.” Most recently the Hollands worked with the giftplanning team at Advocate Charitable Foundation to make a charitable gift in support of Good Samaritan Hospital’s oncology department (see sidebar on page 12). With the help of charitable donations, the unit will be renovated to include private rooms and a dedicated space for patients’ families. “When we lost Ken, we felt so helpless sitting in a small, uncomfortable trauma waiting area,” Bob says. “Since then my wife and I have hoped to be able to help make this kind of experience easier for families like ours. It’s hard to relax under these circumstances, so anything you can do to make it a more pleasant experience for patients and their families has got to help. Ken loved life and would be moved by this and the other things we do in his name—and that’s what keeps us going.” ■ Cancer services continue to expand As a not-for-profit organization, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital relies on the support of its friends and neighbors as it expands the health care services it provides to the community. Gifts are currently being sought to help the hospital’s Cancer Care Center: • Develop a cancer survivorship program, which will help patients during the entire cancer process: from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and beyond. • Expand services to include medical oncology, so patients can receive the entire spectrum of cancer care, close to home. • Renovate the existing inpatient oncology unit, which has been largely funded by the Kenneth Brooks Holland Memorial Fund. Donations are still being sought to obtain leading-edge technology and help create private rooms and a comfortable environment so loved ones can be near. For more information or to make a gift, please call 630.275.6518. Spring 2012 – healing gifts – 13
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