Giving · In addition to the Fitness Park, the Foundation is unveiling additional giving opportunities for individuals wanting to leave their own legacy and be part of our Riverside

Volume 18, Number 1 • 2020 • News for Friends of the Mercyhealth Development Foundation

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 1

The Mercyhealth Development Foundation is excited to announce that we are raising funds in 2020 to support an Outdoor Fitness Park being built adjacent to Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside. The Fitness Park is one of several new giving opportunities the Foundation is unveiling this year.

Together with the exceptional health care delivered at Mercyhealth, the Outdoor Fitness Park will contribute to a higher quality of life for our patients, their families, our partners and the entire community. Located on the northeast side of the Riverside campus, this new space will allow users of all abilities, including those with physical limitations, to exercise while enjoying natural and designed landscapes in an open air environment. The addition of nature and fresh air helps make exercising fun and therefore more effective, and has proven to reduce stress and encourage healthy behaviors.

Plans are currently underway to develop the design for the new outdoor space, with more details coming soon. Dollars raised for the new Fitness Park will be funded through generous gifts from donors, along with proceeds from a new, exciting fundraising event.

Major soccer star headlines June fundraiserIn conjunction with the fitness theme, the Foundation is bringing Landon Donovan to Rockford to help raise funds for the Fitness Park. Landon Donovan, widely regarded as one of the greatest U.S. soccer players in history, will join us on Friday, June 19, at the Mercyhealth Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. He will lead a soccer clinic and be the keynote speaker at a dinner that evening (see Landon’s biography on Page 2). We hope you can join us for this once-in-a lifetime event. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or tickets, contact Foundation Development Coordinator Monica Phillips at (815) 971-4146.

Mercyhealth Development Foundation Focuses 2020 Fundraising on New Outdoor Fitness Park; Plans Major Soccer Event

Giving

Continued on page 2

The Mercyhealth Development Foundation is raising funds to support the creation of an outdoor fitness park similar to the one pictured above.

More opportunities for donorsIn addition to the Fitness Park, the Foundation is unveiling additional giving opportunities for individuals wanting to leave their own legacy and be part of our Riverside campus. There are a variety of ways you, your family or business can make a financial gift while advancing your personal interest or honoring a loved one.

You can target your donation to specific areas within the Riverside campus or its surrounding grounds. For each area listed below, there are specific gift values associated with each opportunity, and all gifts will be recognized by naming rights and a standard-size plaque.

Dining Courtyard DonorPatrons to the hospital’s first-class dining facility, Café Merci, enjoy eating and socializing in the warm and inviting décor of the dining courtyard that features natural lighting, comfortable seating, wide-open views to the outdoors and an outdoor patio.

Floating Sculpture DonorSuspended above the light-filled atrium that welcomes patients and visitors to Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside is a stunning and colorful floating sculpture that captures our imaginations, brightens our spirits, and provides a sense of serenity and peace.

Pediatric Healing Garden Playground Equipment DonorThe rooftop garden, complete with a meditation zone and children’s playground, offers a place of respite and a breath of fresh air when times are challenging. Interactive play equipment and rest and relaxation benches allow children and parents to feel close to nature and take in the beautiful scenic views.

Living Wall DonorThe dramatic two-story living wall in the hospital’s Adult entrance brings warmth and a sense of nature to the lobby. If you look closely, you can see our Rockton and Riverside campuses in purple with the Rock River flowing in between the plant design.

Outdoor Playground DonorAt the outdoor playground at Javon Bea Hospital and Physician Clinic–Riverside, young patients can enjoy a carefree, playful, environment amidst doctor appointments or hospital stays which has been shown to benefit a child’s physical, emotional, social and cognitive development.

Pediatric Healing Garden Bench DonorRest and relaxation benches allow children, siblings and parents to sit in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the Pediatric Healing Garden where they can read a book, gather their thoughts, watch children play, and be inspired by nature.

Hospital and Wellness Path Bench DonorOn the grounds of this impressive campus, a number of benches surround the hospital and clinic, as well as a one-mile wellness path that promotes community health and wellness. These attractive benches allow hospital visitors, staff and the public to relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

“We are excited to offer donors a more personal and visible way for them to be involved in our philanthropic efforts,” said Mercyhealth Development Foundation Director Jennifer Johns. “Donors can select a project that is meaningful to them that will support the mission of Mercyhealth while building a legacy for themselves and their family.”

For more information about these giving opportunities, contact Jennifer at (815) 971-4143 or visit foundation.mercyhealthsystem.org/donor-opportunities.


Inspire. Give. Heal.

Continued from page 1

Soccer Legend Landon Donovan A native of Southern California, Landon Donovan, 38, is one of the greatest U.S. men’s soccer players of all time. During his 19-year professional career, Donovan played for six professional teams covering four leagues and holds numerous individual records in Major League Soccer (MLS) and for the U.S. national team. He is a six-time MLS Cup Champion, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion, and two-time MLS Supporters’ Shield winner. Donovan continues to lead in the MLS record books with assists (136) and playoff goals (25), and he co-leads MLS in playoff assists (14). The MLS MVP Award has been renamed the Landon Donovan MVP Award in his honor. He is second in MLS history for most regular-season goals at 145, a record four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and was named FIFA’s Best Young Player of the World Cup in 2002. In 2019, Donovan co-founded a USL Championship expansion team in San Diego, California, that he manages today.


Mercyhealth Development Foundation

Donor Spotlight: Janesville Jets Score Big for Mercyhealth Cancer Center

In this issue of Giving, we salute the Janesville Jets junior hockey team which has generously donated more than $35,000 to the Mercyhealth Cancer Center over the past 11 years through their Pink in the Rink event. This incredibly talented team has qualified for the postseason in nine of 10 seasons, and expects a 10th qualification this year. Each home game brings on average 700 local hockey fans to the ice arena for affordable entertainment. We recently sat down with Mason Lyttle, the team’s Director of Business and Communications, who joined the Jets organization five years ago.

Tell us about your organization.Bill McCoshen and six other partners formed the Jets in 2008, and we began play in 2009. The North American Hockey League is a junior hockey league focused on advancing its players to NCAA Division I hockey. Since 2009, the Jets have helped more than 100 players achieve their dreams of playing college hockey. Our mission is simple: Develop and Advance Players; Serve and Represent Our Community; and Provide Affordable, Family Fun.

How did your partnership with the Mercyhealth Development Foundation begin?Mercyhealth has been our top sponsor from the beginning and we have enjoyed a long and meaningful relationship. The Jets would not have survived without Mercyhealth believing in us. Mercyhealth doctors Darin Rutherford, Dennys Maldonado, and Michael Angeline, and athletic trainer, Kathy Calkins, give us the league’s top medical staff.

As for the Foundation, our Pink in the Rink event began in 2009. We knew we had a responsibility to use our platform and visibility to help our community, and wanted to stay local with our charitable giving.

What is the Pink in the Rink event, and how did you chose Mercyhealth cancer patients as the beneficiaries?To coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we dedicate an entire weekend series to wearing specialty pink jerseys that are auctioned off as unique memorabilia, with the proceeds benefitting the Mercyhealth Cancer Center. The event includes celebrity bartenders from the Foundation, raffles, special ceremonial puck drops recognizing survivorship, and, of course, the amazing work done by our billets who decorate the rink. It’s a fun way to involve our fans who have increased their donations every season since I’ve been here. This year, jersey sales alone raised $6,000.

You have been such generous and loyal donors over the years. What inspires you to give?It’s who we are. With our slogan “Your Town, Your Team,” we know that we’ve got to walk the walk if we’re going to talk the talk. Commitment to community being one of our three organizational pillars means that a huge part of who we are is giving back to the community. Whether it’s players reading in a classroom, coaches helping with youth hockey tryouts, or holding specialty fundraisers with awesome pink jerseys, it’s all about doing, not saying.

What other causes do the Jets support? Every year we perform more than 2,000 hours of community service. This works out to be two, sometimes three appearances per week, per player, either on the ice with a youth hockey practice, at a special event held by a sponsor, or in classrooms all over Rock County.

Tell us about the team mascot.Everyone loves Chilly Bear, who represents us so well at games and in the community. Chilly has fun with fans and is always giving out special prizes, taking selfies, and being a goofball on the ice.

Members of the Janesville Jets junior hockey team present a check for $6,100 to Mercyhealth Development Director Jennifer Johns, and Nurse Navigator Cindy Gunn and Receptionist Mary Lou Ruchti of the Mercyhealth Cancer Center, from monies raised at the Jets 2019 Pink in the Rink event.

Jets mascot “Chilly” sports his own Pink in the Rink jersey, which was auctioned off this year for a record-breaking $700 to benefit the Mercyhealth Cancer Center.



Mercyhealth celebrated the completion of a $15.3 million investment in its Janesville campus at an open house on Saturday, January 25.

The project entailed renovations and equipment/technology upgrades to the operating room and radiology department at Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center–Janesville, as well as building a new plastic surgery facility.

Hospital renovations include the addition of a hybrid operating suite, two additional ophthalmology procedure rooms, radiology department upgrades and the complete 3D ultrasound, echocardiography and stress lab areas.

“Health care procedures have an inverse relationship to health care technology. The smaller the incision, the larger the equipment needed,” said Javon Bea, President/CEO of Mercyhealth. “The goal is to keep patients in Janesville and offer as many minimally invasive procedures as possible so hospital stays are shorter and recovery is quicker.”

The new Plastic Surgery, Skin and Laser Center accommodates growing plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery volumes and provides a beautiful, enhanced space for patients undergoing aesthetician and laser services. The new 4,000-square-foot facility includes new waiting area, reception desk, exam rooms, procedure rooms and other support spaces.

“As a Level II Emergency Trauma Center, it is essential to have a plastic and reconstructive surgeon available for emergencies and trauma cases,” added Bea. “In fact, we receive the most serious trauma cases in Rock County and have the region’s only board certified emergency trauma physicians providing coverage 24 hours a day.”

The open house included guided behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations, free flu shots, blood pressure and hernia screenings, kids’ games, refreshments and prizes.

Renovations to the Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center–Janesville included the addition of a hybrid operating suite.

Mercyhealth Opens New Plastic Surgery Clinic, Completes Hospital Renovations in Janesville

Again this year, the Mercyhealth Development Foundation encourages all Mercyhealth partners to “Have a Heart … Be a Part” of our family by making a gift to the Mercyhealth Partner Crisis Program. The program gives partners the opportunity to contribute to a fund that is used to help fellow partners who are facing a variety of crisis situations such as fires, floods or medical emergencies. In 2019, Mercyhealth partners donated more than $62,000 to help nearly 50 partners in need.

Giving is easy. Partners can donate online at mercyintranet.org/partnercrisisprogram or by completing a paper form available by contacting the Foundation. Gifts of any size are greatly appreciated and can be made by cash, check, credit card, payroll deduction or donation of personal time off (PTO).

Partners who donated to last year’s Partner Crisis Program through payroll deduction do not have to sign up again this year. However, those who made a one-time cash donation, or donation of PTO last year will need to sign up again in 2020 as those gifts are not recurring.

In conjunction with the program’s heart theme, a special promotion was held at several Mercyhealth locations on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, to sign up donors and give away tasty treats.

Mercyhealth partners who would like to apply for assistance through the Partner Crisis Program simply need to complete a confidential application. It is promptly reviewed by a committee of partners appointed by the Mercyhealth Human Resources Department.

The Mercyhealth Development Foundation thanks those who have already made a gift to the Partner Crisis Program for having a heart and being a part of our family. For more information, contact the Foundation at (815) 971-4141 or (608) 755-8821.

Foundation Launches 2020 Partner-to-Partner Giving Program

PART

NER CRISIS PROGRAM

Mercyhealth recently opened a new Plastic Surgery, Skin and Laser Center in Janesville.



Think spring … think Charity Ball! With the end of winter in sight, the Mercyhealth Development Foundation encourages you to look ahead to spring with its warmer temperatures, blooming flowers and the annual House of Mercy Homeless Center Charity Ball. This year’s prestigious, black-tie evening will be held on Saturday, April 18, 5-11 pm, at a new location, The Celtic House, 1417 W. Airport Rd., Janesville.

The Charity Ball Committee is hard at work to make this year’s event more spectacular than ever. Guests will be treated to a delicious gourmet dinner, raffle with fantastic prizes, silent and live auctions featuring one-of-a-kind items, and lively dancing to the sounds of Hip Pocket, back by popular demand. Tickets are $100 per person.

All proceeds from the Charity Ball benefit the House of Mercy Homeless Center, a 25-bed homeless center in Janesville that provides homeless families with 60 days of short-term emergency shelter and access to housing, job placement and child care resources. Since opening in 1996, the Center has provided shelter and support to more than 7,000 individuals, half of whom are children under the age of five.

On any given night in Rock County, local school

districts report that more than 700 school-aged children are

unsheltered. These are young members of our community living

on the streets, in cars or in other places not meant for human habitation. Almost every day, the House

of Mercy is filled to capacity.

You can help the House of Mercy in its mission to provide shelter for homeless families by:• Making a monetary donation. Every dollar helps create

a success story for a brighter future for those in need. • Donating an item to the Charity Ball’s silent or live

auctions. Our goal this year is to offer guests a collection of truly outstanding items and packages to bid on.

• Attending the Charity Ball on April 18. We would be honored to have you join us for this entertaining and elegant evening.

For tickets or more information on the Charity Ball, visit: mercyhealthcharityball.org or contact Foundation Development Coordinator, Kristin Larson, at (608) 741-2422 or [email protected].

House of Mercy Wish List for MarchTo keep the House of Mercy Homeless Center running, it seeks help from volunteers, financial contributions, and donations of various items needed by residents. Every month, the Center announces a Wish List of desired items. For March, the Center is asking for donations of breakfast bars and fruit juice to coincide with March being National Nutrition Month.

Wisconsin residents can place donations in the collections boxes at the MercyCare Building or Mercyhealth Mall in Janesville; Mercyhealth Beloit; or Mercyhealth Hospital

and Medical Center–Walworth. At the end of the month, the items are taken to the House of Mercy, and a collection of new Wish List items starts.

Those in Illinois wanting to donate can drop off items at the Mercyhealth Development Foundation office, 2400 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford, now located next to Funderburg Auditorium at Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton.

For more information, contact House of Mercy Homeless Center Manager Tammie King-Johnson at (608) 754-0045.

Spring Forward with the House of Mercy

Charity Ball



by Charles Slamar, Vice President, Thompson & Associates

The SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act became effective January 1, 2020. It may change not only how you save for retirement, but how withdrawals are made from your retirement plan. Although intended to strengthen

retirement savings, some worry that it may also hurt savers. There are three major changes in the new law.

First, the Act eliminates the maximum age for contributing to an IRA. Previously, once you reached 70½ years old, you could no longer make tax-deductible contributions. Now you can, regardless of your age. However, these contributions must come from “earned income”, such as wages or other compensation. Dividends, interest, and rents (so called “passive income”) do not count in this regard. However, the Act does provide that certain payments to graduate students and foster care providers may qualify as compensation.

Second, the Act increases the age at which you must start making withdrawals from your IRA (known as required minimum distributions or RMDs). Previously, you had to start

taking your RMD by April 1 of the year after you turned 70½. That age has now been raised to 72. However, if you had started your RMD under the old law, you cannot stop and then resume them once you turn 72. Since the failure to take RMD carries significant penalties (50% of the amount that should have been distributed), you should confirm with your IRA custodian if there is any doubt which rule applies to you.

In either event, the Act leaves unchanged the age at which an IRA owner can make transfers directly to charity from their IRA (Qualified Charitable Distributions/QCDs or IRA Charitable Rollovers). A previous article addressed how once you reach 70½, you can direct up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to the charities of your choice. Although this amount will not qualify for a charitable income tax deduction, it will count against your RMD and not be included in your income for the year. With itemizing income tax deductions out of reach for most of us, this is a great tax-efficient and cost-effective manner of fulfilling our charitable intentions.

The third major change is that the Act shortens to 10 years the period available to “stretch” RMDs of inherited IRAs. Previously, one who became an IRA beneficiary by reason of the death of its owner could substitute their life expectancy for the owner’s to determine the annual RMD.

New Law Impacts Retirement Planning

As we venture into 2020 at the Mercyhealth Development Foundation, it’s a good opportunity to look back on what we have accomplished this past year. With generous gifts from you, our donors, we were able to touch the lives

of all segments of our population. I am excited to share with you the many ways your donations are making a difference for patients and families at Mercyhealth.

In 2019, the Mercyhealth Development Foundation:• Opened a new Pediatric Healing Garden at Javon Bea

Hospital–Riverside, after raising the $850,000 needed to create this tranquil, green space

• Awarded 30 LUCAS Chest Compression Systems to help area EMS agencies save lives

• Raised more than $180,000 for the House of Mercy Homeless Center at our annual House of Mercy Charity Ball

• Provided $100,000 in sponsorships to community organizations

• Funded scholarships for Mercyhealth paramedic students• Provided sensory and safety equipment, social skills

classes, and respite care to families of children with an autism spectrum disorder

• Distributed hundreds of toys to pediatric patients through our annual Holiday Toy Drive

• Supported initiatives, such as the Kangaroo-a-Thon, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to encourage the growth and development of premature newborns

• Funded massages for cancer patients to promote healing and relaxation

• Raised more than $30,000 for Mercyhealth at Home at our annual Golf Play Day

• Provided free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured area women

• Contributed more than $100,000 in support to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile that provides free medical and dental care to area children in need

• Raised more than $62,000 through the Partner Crisis Program to provide assistance to nearly 50 employees experiencing crises

We hope you take great satisfaction from all the things you have helped make possible for our patients, their families and the community. The positive and far-reaching effects of these programs will be felt for years to come, from enhancing care and comfort to saving lives. And, with your support, we can continue to make a difference in 2020 and beyond. On behalf of the many individuals who benefit from your donations, thank you for sharing our passion for making lives better.

by Jennifer Johns, CFRE Director, Mercyhealth Development Foundation

Director’s Corner: Your Donations Are Making a Difference!

Continued on page 7

The Mercyhealth Development Foundation held its largest and most successful Holiday Toy Drive on Thursday, December 12, collecting more than 1,000 toys and raising more than $30,000 for pediatric patients receiving care throughout Mercyhealth. Generous donors dropped off toys throughout the morning and enjoyed breakfast, holiday music by the Boylan Catholic High School Octaves, inspirational testimonials from patients and area organizations, a broadcast from WIFR-TV, and a special visit from Santa.

Nearly 175 people attended the Toy Drive. Mercyhealth patients and families shared uplifting stories of how they have benefited from toy donations during their care and treatment. The event also featured presentations by many area organizations that collected toys, including the K Cancer Baseball and Softball Teams, the Rockford Public Schools 205 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and St. Rita Catholic School.

Following breakfast, Santa put smiles on children’s faces by delivering the new toys to pediatric patients hospitalized on the Level III (highest level) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, and those receiving care in the Emergency Department of Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside.

“Our Toy Drive is successful because of the continued support of the community,” said Jennifer Johns, Director of

Mercyhealth Development Foundation. “Thanks to all our loyal sponsors and generous donors, the Foundation is able to provide Mercyhealth’s youngest patients with toys and games that will help distract, soothe and entertain them as they face illness or injury throughout the entire year.”

The Foundation extends its gratitude to the following individuals and businesses that donated toys or made a monetary gift to the annual Holiday Toy Drive:

Holiday Miracle SponsorsEpic SystemsNapleton’s Autowerks, Inc.

Santa SponsorsMercyhealth MD-1 PhysiciansRockford Mutual Insurance Company/Sadie’s Dream for a CureRohlik Financial Group

Sleigh SponsorsCrusader Community HealthJoe Cooling & Sons, Inc.Kelso-Burnett Co.

Holiday Tree SponsorsLarson & Darby GroupMercyhealth Emergency Physicians, Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside and RocktonMercyhealth RMH Auxiliary VolunteersPecatonica Community Dodge Ball TournamentPlumbers & Pipefitters U.A. Local 23Rasmussen CollegeSterling Commercial Roofing, Inc.Eric ThornburgWilson Electric Co.

Many thanks also go to the Caroler and Elf Sponsors, as well as those businesses who served as Toy Drive drop-off sites, including Mary’s Market, Meg’s Daily Grind, area Starbucks, Williams Tree Farm and St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.



Foundation’s 16th Annual Holiday Toy Drive Yields Record-Breaking Success!

As part of this year’s Holiday Toy Drive, Santa brings a toy and cheer to a patient hospitalized on the Pediatric Unit of Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside.

This permitted the new beneficiary to spread the income tax consequences of their withdrawals over a longer period of time rather than having to report them all at once or within five years. Concerned that those who inherited IRAs would quickly spend them down, assuring the stretch provisions by so called “conduit trusts” became a popular estate-planning tool. These new rules do not apply if a spouse, minor (until reaches majority), disabled individual, chronically ill individual, or beneficiary not more than 10 years younger than the owner inherits an IRA. Although there are no annual RMDs for those who are subject to this new rule (only that the entire amount must be withdrawn within 10 years), it could create an unexpected tax bill for those who fail to adjust their annual withdrawals or wait until the end of 10 years to take it all.

Attorney Charles Slamar is on site once a month to help Mercyhealth’s donors and friends explore the most cost-effective and tax-efficient ways their estate plan can benefit themselves and their families, as well as their favorite charities. These no-cost, no-obligation and confidential meetings result in a series of recommendations you can then take to your professional advisors to implement. For more information about this unique service, call Anne Hagney at (815) 971-4144 in Rockford, or Kristin Larson at (608) 741-2422 in Janesville.

Continued from page 6

We’ve moved! The Mercyhealth Development

Foundation has moved its Rockford office to the front of Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton,

next to Funderburg Auditorium in the former medical library.

Hours:8 am-4:30 pm, Monday-Friday



Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

P A I DRockford, IL

Permit No. 685

2400 N. Rockton Ave.Rockford, IL 61103(815) 971-4141

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Left to Right: Mercyhealth RMH Auxiliary Volunteers President and Mercyhealth Development Foundation Board Member Lisa Rudy presents a check for more than $150,000 to Foundation Board Chair Patrick O’Keefe, Mercyhealth Vice President Barb Bortner, and Foundation Director Jennifer Johns at the Auxiliary’s annual meeting in November. The Auxiliary raises the funds from proceeds of sales at its Thrift Shop, Gift Shops and Holiday Markets.

Mercyhealth Development Foundation2400 N. Rockton Ave. 903 Mineral Point Ave.Rockford, IL 61103 Janesville, WI 53548(815) 971-4141 (608) 755-8821

2020 Board of DirectorsJavon R. Bea ..................................................President/CEO, MercyhealthMark Goelzer, MD.............................Mercyhealth Legal Board of Directors

Board MembersPatrick J. O’Keefe ......................................................................... ChairmanMarc BarbeauW. Walter BootheJason Bredenkamp, MDChris ClapperJere JohnsonLisa RudyRev. Twila SchockEric ThornburgKathy L. Weber

StaffBarbra Bortner ....................................................Vice President, Foundation, Marketing and PR, Volunteer ServicesJennifer Johns ...................................................................................DirectorAnne Hagney ....................................................... Public Relations SpecialistKristin Larson .........................................................Development Coordinator Monica Phillips .......................................................Development Coordinator

Thank You, Auxiliary Volunteers!

Documents

Giving · In addition to the Fitness Park, the Foundation is unveiling additional giving opportunities for individuals wanting to leave their own legacy and be part of our Riverside