Moments. We live for them. In 2022, as we were slowly reemerging from the sadness and challenges of the coronavirus, I was fortunate to connect with family, friends, clients, and colleagues for some uplifting conversations.
Amid the uncertainty and heartbreak of the pandemic, these moments of hope sustained me as we all navigated our new norms. They also kept me thinking about how to help with the social implications of a worldwide health crisis.
During one of these talks, a colleague asked me about the giving strategy of my clients, given the pandemic and its impact on donors. My answer was straightforward: Most of my clients stayed the course with their strategic giving plans. That’s the beauty of having such plans when inevitable disruptions happen.
For clients with health care priorities, their approach was to lean more heavily to their preferred nonprofits and expand their interest to prospective organizations working on vaccines. Because they already had giving plans in place, they were able to easily adjust to match their priorities and the times.
Interestingly, I received a text early this year from a dear friend, Sharon Martinelli. Her message was short, sweet, and to the point:
“Hi, I'd really appreciate it if you would share or donate to this GoFundMe. (She included a link.) I have been supporting their monthly deficits for PT for a while and have supported the go fund me as an effort to create a cushion for safety. Let me know what you think.”
My husband and I didn’t think long. After reading the post, we matched Sharon’s most recent gift the next day. First, we trust her savvy triaging for legitimacy. As a retired accountant, Sharon has tremendous experience in vetting clients and poring over numbers of those with sizable net worth. Second, after reading the GoFundMe post, we learned the recipient suffered from mobility issues. Her fight was for time and expert care to be able to walk.
Health care costs can be staggering in the United States and can unravel the lives of so many.
19% of households couldn’t pay for timely medical care according to a 2021 Census study
Did you know, for instance, medical costs are a main factor in personal bankruptcies? A May 2023 Forbes article looked at this critical issue. The report cited a 2021 Census Bureau study that found 19% of households couldn’t pay for timely medical care. That’s almost one in five. Imagine the neighbors in your community. Could one or more be struggling, possibly quietly, with the financial burden of health care costs?
Forbes also referenced a 2022 report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In that report, the federal agency said medical debt was the leading reason debt collectors called on consumers. Statistics and reports like this reinforce why health care is such a priority for giving.
When Sharon learned that my husband and I had decided to participate in her chosen GoFundMe, she was moved.
“I love you so much for doing that,” she wrote. “Not sure why she’s so deeply in my heart but she is. I’m grateful to you and love your support.”
Of the many gifts we could have given Sharon, this one clearly meant the most to her. There is a connection here, a very direct and personal way of giving—of helping.
Moments. Of compassion and action.
Today, as you look at your priorities, what difference could you make by giving to an individual who has an immediate health care need?