From Healing to Giving: A Patient’s Gratitude Inspires Career and Legacy
Gretchen Pate, Manager of Prospect Research, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM)
My journey with PPRM started before I became an employee. I was a patient at one of PPRM’s Colorado health centers where everyone was warm, welcoming, and helpful. I left with such high regard for the care PPRM offered to me and so many other patients. Fast forward—this September marks 12 years of working with this organization and I still experience that same level of compassion as an employee.
During my time with PPRM, I have been fortunate to see so many facets of our work. I started in our Call Center, connecting patients to their care needs and then transitioned into our health centers, working alongside patients, nurse practitioners, and providers. Here I saw patients' needs firsthand. Witnessing their relief and gratitude at learning that we can support them financially and emotionally is an experience that changed me to my core.
Then, when an opportunity presented itself within our Development department, I decided to take the jump.
Making this career transition, I kept remembering the impact donations and funders had on our patients. I thought, “How can I be that person for someone else?” I see planned giving as a way that I can prepare to be that person in the future. It gives my present self comfort knowing that when I do pass, my own resources will continue to support something so personally important.
Planned giving taps into a larger conversation and view of yourself and the legacy you will leave behind. As an employee and young person, I want to know that I will still be contributing to this organization, and that my impact isn’t over. Ultimately, I think that’s what makes planned giving—as a donor, employee, and patient—so special.
Like Gretchen, you, too, can help ensure that women continue to have access to the highest quality reproductive and sexual health care by including Planned Parenthood in your estate plan. Contact the Development Office at 303.813.7638 or [email protected] to learn more.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.