A charitable estate story
Note: After the posting of the following story, Betty Heiney passed away on July 28, 2009, and her husband, Jack, passed away on November 6, 2011. They are greatly missed and will always be remembered for their contributions to Community Health Network.
Jack and Betty Heiney know a thing or two about long relationships. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2008.
In 1970, Jack joined the Community Hospital Board, beginning another decades-long relationship.
Jack’s mark is most obvious at 82nd Street and Shadeland Avenue. As hospital board chairman, he championed the acquisition of more than 100 acres in Castleton. Today, the Community Hospital North campus is the Community Health Network’s largest.
In steering Community toward what has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas, “he was a visionary,” said Bill Corley, Community Health Network CEO. Jack took what at the time was a huge risk. His forward thinking leadership has helped Community grow and remain financially healthy.
As for Jack and Betty’s decision to include Community Health Network Foundation in their estate plans, Jack says, “Indianapolis has been very good to us. We’ve have good friends and good jobs. We did so many interesting things. We’ve been very frugal, never had any children. We feel some obligation to pay back.”
“A few years ago, we decided to do some estate planning,” Betty says. “Our financial advisor told us to plan on giving some money away. Having that done has been a great weight off my mind.”
The Heiney’s made their estate gift to Community Health Network Foundation through a charitable remainder unitrust.
“Jack’s volunteer involvement has meant a lot,” Betty says. “When opportunity came to have the planned giving society named for us, we said ‘yes’ right away. Community has taken very good care of us.”
“If others join us,” says Jack, “it might give the hospital some capital to work with unrestricted. That’s where the possibilities for innovation come from.”
