Barbara Donovan, a former teacher and lifelong learner, has left her entire estate to the Community Foundation and St. Clair County Community College.
“Barbara knew she could trust the Community Foundation to ensure the support of People’s Clinic patients long after she passed,” said Randa Jundi-Samman, Community Foundation Board Chair. “Donors like Barbara know we will carry on their legacy.”
The Barbara Donovan Endowment Fund for People’s Clinic will receive half of the estate proceeds to support the non-profit clinic in providing medical care to the underserved residents of St. Clair County. This endowment fund will join in support of the clinic alongside Port Huron legend Helen David’s endowment. Donors like Barbara and Helen knew they could use the Community Foundation to steward their charitable assets designated for charities dear to their hearts.
“Barbara worked with her long-time and trusted attorney, Doug Touma, to make provisions in her trust to benefit two causes she cared deeply about,” said Jackie Hanton, Community Foundation Vice President. “Patients at the People’s Clinic and students at SC4 will benefit from the gift that keeps on giving because of Barbara’s philanthropic foresight and planning.”
Regardless of why someone chooses to give, philanthropic goals can easily be incorporated into a simple estate plan, and it does not require a large income or vast estate. Making a planned gift through the Community Foundation can be an investment in the future of organizations or causes that are meaningful to the donor.
Barbara loved art and was a lifelong learner. She attended classes at SC4 every year for almost 30 years after her retirement, taking her final class just two months before she passed away at the age of 90. She was able to see the art she read and learned about in all those classes, experiencing it firsthand during her trips overseas to places like France, Italy, Spain and Egypt.
“She never stopped learning and teaching others,” said retired CPA and longtime friend, Tom McTaggart. Barbara’s teaching career officially began in Ohio, before taking her to California and then to Port Huron High where she taught English for 20 years. “She had a wonderful ability to help people understand things using creative methods,” added McTaggart.
“This generous gift will help with the sustainability of the clinic so that it can be running for another 30 years,” said Chandra Gruber, Director of Lake Huron Foundation that oversees the operation of People’s Clinic.
Barbara was introduced to the Community Foundation by Doug Touma and her legacy will live on through the Barbara Donovan Endowment Fund for People’s Clinic and through two scholarship funds for students at SC4.
The Community Foundation manages more than 45 endowment funds for the benefit of local organizations. For more information on how to benefit your favorite organization, contact Jackie Hanton, Vice President, at 810-984-4761 or Jackie@stclairfoundation.org