McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation recently received a substantial donation from a former patient who was grateful for the care that he received during his lifetime.
Mr. Ronald R. Pawlak, Esq. had made arrangements in his estate plan for a gift to benefit patient care. Mr. Pawlak, a retired attorney who moved to Harbor Springs after over 50 years in practice, named McLaren Home Care & Hospice and McLaren Northern Michigan as beneficiaries of his retirement account upon his death. Mr. Pawlak wanted to ensure that future patients had access to the very best care, and he believed that an investment in nursing care and education would accomplish that.
A large portion of the gift will be used to establish the Ronald Pawlak Endowment Fund for Nursing Education. Endowment funds generate earnings each year to be used for a donor’s intent. Earnings on the Pawlak Education fund will be used to pay for nurses to attend conferences, obtain certification in specialized clinical areas, and pursue higher education.
A portion of the gift will also be used to expand the nursing technology and innovation at McLaren Northern Michigan. “This gift was unexpected and we are overwhelmed by the generosity of Mr. Pawlak,” stated Jennifer Woods, Chief Nursing Officer at McLaren Northern Michigan. “We are thrilled to provide more opportunities for our nurses to grow professionally and bring new ideas to the bedside and to their colleagues.” Mr. Pawlak’s bequest also provides support for patient care for those served by McLaren Home Care and Hospice's Hiland Cottage.
Coincidentally, this gift arrived at the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation office in May, which is Leave a Legacy month in Michigan. “We hope that others are thinking about their legacies. This is a great time to consider what you want to be remembered for, what is important to you, and how you want your life to impact the world,” said Jennifer Yelovina, Planned Giving Officer at the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation. “Mr. Pawlak will leave a lasting impact on our patients, our staff, and this community.”