“Think about what is important to you and the places that have impacted your life.” That is the advice that Sherri Weintrop’s a Certified Financial Planner CFP® and member of the Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation Legacy Advisory Council shares with her clients, family and friends ask for advice on making charitable donations.
It’s what Sherri has done when it comes to her own giving and why the Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation has been a recipient of her generosity through the years.
The abstract made personal
“When our family has needed medical care, Missouri Baptist has always been our hospital of choice,” she said. “My dad and grandmother were both cared for at the hospital before they died, and they had amazing care. I also know first-hand what it means to be a patient.”
That is also why Weintrop is so passionate about the Champions for Care program. Each year Champions designate their giving to a group fundraising project that will elevate the quality of patient care.
“Today’s donor likes to be able to give to something that is meaningful to them, and this project was important to me,” Weintrop said. In 2016, Champions were raising funds to provide 12 new specialized chairs to be used by patients undergoing infusions, including chemotherapy treatments. Treatments last anywhere from a few minutes to eight hours and the new chairs provide added comfort during the hours long infusions for those already experiencing a difficult time.
As a breast cancer survivor, Weintrop was diagnosed and treated for her cancer in 2009 at Missouri Baptist. “When you are a patient in the Infusion Center, you immediately bond with the whole nursing staff and fellow patients,” she recalled. “The entire care management staff is beyond compassionate. In fact, when I am at the hospital, I still walk through the center to see if any of my nurses are working."
“Even if I hadn’t sat there, it’s hard not to know a person in your life who hasn’t had chemotherapy.”
Weintrop said when she thinks about giving, it’s about what can make a difference. With Champions For Care, the combined gifts make a significant impact on patient comfort and care.
“If quality of care means anything to you, I would encourage you to support Champions For Care at Missouri Baptist,” Weintrop said. “One day it may benefit you or a loved one in the hospital.”
To learn more about the Champions for Care program or to become a Champion today contact Deborah Kersting , Foundation officer, via phone, 314-996-5054, by email.