Volume 18, Number 1 • 2020 • News for FriendsGiving of the Mercyhealth Development Foundation Mercyhealth Development Foundation Focuses 2020 Fundraising on New Outdoor Fitness Park; Plans Major Soccer Event

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

The Mercyhealth Development Foundation is excited Plans are currently underway to develop the design for to announce that we are raising funds in 2020 to the new outdoor space, with more details coming soon. support an Outdoor Fitness Park being built adjacent Dollars raised for the new Fitness Park will be funded to Mercyhealth’s Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside. The through generous gifts from donors, along with proceeds Fitness Park is one of several new giving opportunities from a new, exciting fundraising event. the Foundation is unveiling this year. Major soccer star headlines June fundraiser Together with the exceptional health care delivered at In conjunction with the fitness theme, the Foundation is Mercyhealth, the Outdoor Fitness Park will contribute bringing Landon Donovan to Rockford to help raise funds to a higher quality of life for our patients, their families, for the Fitness Park. Landon Donovan, widely regarded our partners and the entire community. Located on the as one of the greatest U.S. soccer players in history, northeast side of the Riverside campus, this new space will join us on Friday, June 19, at the Mercyhealth will allow users of all abilities, including those with physical Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. He limitations, to exercise while enjoying natural and designed will lead a soccer clinic and be the keynote speaker at a landscapes in an open air environment. The addition dinner that evening (see Landon’s biography on Page 2). We of nature and fresh air helps make exercising fun and hope you can join us for this once-in-a lifetime event. For therefore more effective, and has proven to reduce stress more information on sponsorship opportunities or tickets, and encourage healthy behaviors. contact Foundation Development Coordinator Monica Phillips at (815) 971-4146. Continued on page 2 To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 1 Inspire. Give. Heal.

Continued from page 1

More opportunities for donors Living Wall Donor In addition to the Fitness Park, the Foundation is unveiling The dramatic two-story living wall in the hospital’s Adult additional giving opportunities for individuals wanting to leave entrance brings warmth and a sense of nature to the lobby. their own legacy and be part of our Riverside campus. There If you look closely, you can see our Rockton and Riverside are a variety of ways you, your family or business can make campuses in purple with the Rock River flowing in between a financial gift while advancing your personal interest or the plant design. honoring a loved one. Outdoor Playground Donor You can target your donation to specific areas within the At the outdoor playground at Javon Bea Hospital and Riverside campus or its surrounding grounds. For each area Physician Clinic–Riverside, young patients can enjoy a listed below, there are specific gift values associated with carefree, playful, environment amidst doctor appointments each opportunity, and all gifts will be recognized by naming or hospital stays which has been shown to benefit a child’s rights and a standard-size plaque. physical, emotional, social and cognitive development.

Dining Courtyard Donor Pediatric Healing Garden Bench Donor Patrons to the hospital’s first-class dining facility, Café Rest and relaxation benches allow children, siblings and Merci, enjoy eating and socializing in the warm and inviting parents to sit in the beautiful and tranquil setting of the décor of the dining courtyard that features natural lighting, Pediatric Healing Garden where they can read a book, gather comfortable seating, wide-open views to the outdoors and their thoughts, watch children play, and be inspired by nature. an outdoor patio. Hospital and Wellness Path Bench Donor Floating Sculpture Donor On the grounds of this impressive campus, a number of Suspended above the light-filled atrium that welcomes benches surround the hospital and clinic, as well as a one- patients and visitors to Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside is a mile wellness path that promotes community health and stunning and colorful floating sculpture that captures our wellness. These attractive benches allow hospital visitors, imaginations, brightens our spirits, and provides a sense of staff and the public to relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. serenity and peace. “We are excited to offer donors a more personal and visible Pediatric Healing Garden Playground Equipment Donor way for them to be involved in our philanthropic efforts,” The rooftop garden, complete with a meditation zone and said Mercyhealth Development Foundation Director Jennifer children’s playground, offers a place of respite and a breath Johns. “Donors can select a project that is meaningful to of fresh air when times are challenging. Interactive play them that will support the mission of Mercyhealth while equipment and rest and relaxation benches allow children building a legacy for themselves and their family.” and parents to feel close to nature and take in the beautiful scenic views. For more information about these giving opportunities, contact Jennifer at (815) 971-4143 or visit foundation. mercyhealthsystem.org/donor-opportunities.

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.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 2 Mercyhealth Development Foundation

Donor Spotlight: Janesville Jets Score Big for Mercyhealth Cancer Center 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.

Members of the Janesville Jets junior hockey team present a check You have been such generous and loyal donors over the for $6,100 to Mercyhealth Development Director Jennifer Johns, and years. What inspires you to give? Nurse Navigator Cindy Gunn and Receptionist Mary Lou Ruchti of the It’s who we are. With our slogan “Your Town, Your Team,” Mercyhealth Cancer Center, from monies raised at the Jets 2019 Pink in the Rink event. 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 In this issue of Giving, we salute the Janesville Jets junior we are is giving back to the community. Whether it’s players hockey team which has generously donated more than reading in a classroom, coaches helping with youth hockey $35,000 to the Mercyhealth Cancer Center over the past tryouts, or holding specialty fundraisers with awesome pink 11 years through their Pink in the Rink event. This incredibly jerseys, it’s all about doing, not saying. talented team has qualified for the postseason in nine of 10 seasons, and expects a 10th qualification this year. Each What other causes do the Jets support? home game brings on average 700 local hockey fans to Every year we perform more than 2,000 hours of the ice arena for affordable entertainment. We recently sat community service. This works out to be two, sometimes down with Mason Lyttle, the team’s Director of Business three appearances per week, per player, either on the ice and Communications, who joined the Jets organization five with a youth hockey practice, at a special event held by a years ago. sponsor, or in classrooms all over Rock County.

Tell us about your organization. Tell us about the team mascot. Bill McCoshen and six other partners formed the Jets in Everyone loves Chilly Bear, who represents us so well at 2008, and we began play in 2009. The North American games and in the community. Chilly has fun with fans and is Hockey League is a junior hockey league focused on always giving out special prizes, taking selfies, and being a advancing its players to NCAA Division I hockey. Since goofball on the ice. 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 Jets mascot “Chilly” sports his own Pink in the Rink jersey, which and visibility to help our community, and wanted to stay was auctioned off this year for a record-breaking $700 to benefit the local with our charitable giving. Mercyhealth Cancer Center.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 3 Inspire. Give. Heal.

Mercyhealth Opens New Plastic Foundation Launches 2020 Surgery Clinic, Completes Hospital Partner-to-Partner Giving Renovations in Janesville Program Mercyhealth celebrated the completion of a $15.3 million investment in its Janesville campus at an open house on Saturday, RISIS P R C RO January 25. E G N R T A The project entailed renovations and equipment/technology R M upgrades to the operating room and radiology department at A Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center–Janesville, as well P as building a new plastic surgery facility.

Hospital renovations include the addition of a hybrid operating Again this year, the Mercyhealth Development suite, two additional ophthalmology procedure rooms, radiology Foundation encourages all Mercyhealth partners department upgrades and the complete 3D ultrasound, to “Have a Heart … Be a Part” of our family echocardiography and stress lab areas. by making a gift to the Mercyhealth Partner Crisis Program. The program gives partners the “Health care procedures have an inverse relationship to health opportunity to contribute to a fund that is used to care technology. The smaller the incision, the larger the equipment help fellow partners who are facing a variety of needed,” said Javon Bea, President/CEO of Mercyhealth. “The goal crisis situations such as fires, floods or medical is to keep patients in Janesville and offer as many minimally invasive emergencies. In 2019, Mercyhealth partners procedures as possible so hospital stays are shorter and recovery is donated more than $62,000 to help nearly 50 quicker.” partners in need.

The new Plastic Surgery, Skin and Laser Center accommodates Giving is easy. Partners can donate online at growing plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery volumes mercyintranet.org/partnercrisisprogram or by and provides a beautiful, enhanced space for patients undergoing completing a paper form available by contacting aesthetician and laser services. The new 4,000-square-foot facility the Foundation. Gifts of any size are greatly includes new waiting area, reception desk, exam rooms, procedure appreciated and can be made by cash, check, rooms and other support spaces. credit card, payroll deduction or donation of personal time off (PTO). “As a Level II Emergency Trauma Center, it is essential to have a plastic and reconstructive surgeon available for emergencies and Partners who donated to last year’s Partner Crisis trauma cases,” added Bea. “In fact, we receive the most serious Program through payroll deduction do not have to trauma cases in Rock County and have the region’s only board sign up again this year. However, those who made certified emergency trauma physicians providing coverage 24 a one-time cash donation, or donation of PTO last hours a day.” year will need to sign up again in 2020 as those gifts are not recurring. The open house included guided behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations, free flu shots, blood pressure and hernia In conjunction with the program’s heart theme, a screenings, kids’ games, refreshments and prizes. special promotion was held at several Mercyhealth locations on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, to sign up donors and give away tasty treats. Renovations to the Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center–Janesville included the addition of a hybrid Mercyhealth partners who would like to apply for operating suite. 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 Mercyhealth recently opened a new Plastic Surgery, Skin and Crisis Program for having a heart and being a part Laser Center in Janesville. of our family. For more information, contact the Foundation at (815) 971-4141 or (608) 755-8821.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 4 Mercyhealth Development Foundation

Spring Forward with the House of Mercy Charity Ball

Think spring … think Charity On any given night in Ball! With the end of winter Rock County, local school in sight, the Mercyhealth districts report that more than Development Foundation 700 school-aged children are encourages you to look ahead to unsheltered. These are young spring with its warmer temperatures, members of our community living blooming flowers and the annual House of on the streets, in cars or in other places not Mercy Homeless Center Charity Ball. This year’s meant for human habitation. Almost every day, the House prestigious, black-tie evening will be held on Saturday, of Mercy is filled to capacity. April 18, 5-11 pm, at a new location, The Celtic House, 1417 W. Airport Rd., Janesville. You can help the House of Mercy in its mission to provide shelter for homeless families by: The Charity Ball Committee is hard at work to make this • Making a monetary donation. Every dollar helps create year’s event more spectacular than ever. Guests will be a success story for a brighter future for those in need. treated to a delicious gourmet dinner, raffle with fantastic • Donating an item to the Charity Ball’s silent or live prizes, silent and live auctions featuring one-of-a-kind items, auctions. Our goal this year is to offer guests a collection and lively dancing to the sounds of Hip Pocket, back by of truly outstanding items and packages to bid on. popular demand. Tickets are $100 per person. • Attending the Charity Ball on April 18. We would be honored to have you join us for this entertaining and All proceeds from the Charity Ball benefit the House of elegant evening. Mercy Homeless Center, a 25-bed homeless center in Janesville that provides homeless families with 60 days of For tickets or more information on the Charity Ball, visit: short-term emergency shelter and access to housing, job mercyhealthcharityball.org or contact Foundation placement and child care resources. Since opening in 1996, Development Coordinator, Kristin Larson, at (608) 741-2422 the Center has provided shelter and support to more than or [email protected]. 7,000 individuals, half of whom are children under the age of five.

House of Mercy Wish List for March To keep the House of Mercy Homeless Center running, and Medical Center–Walworth. At the end of the month, it seeks help from volunteers, financial contributions, and the items are taken to the House of Mercy, and a donations of various items needed by residents. Every collection of new Wish List items starts. month, the Center announces a Wish List of desired items. For March, the Center is asking for donations of Those in Illinois wanting to donate can drop off items at breakfast bars and fruit juice to coincide with March the Mercyhealth Development Foundation office, 2400 N. being National Nutrition Month. Rockton Ave., Rockford, now located next to Funderburg Auditorium at Javon Bea Hospital–Rockton. Wisconsin residents can place donations in the collections boxes at the MercyCare Building or Mercyhealth Mall in For more information, contact House of Mercy Homeless Janesville; Mercyhealth Beloit; or Mercyhealth Hospital Center Manager Tammie King-Johnson at (608) 754-0045.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 5 Inspire. Give. Heal.

Director’s Corner: Your Donations Are Making a Difference! by Jennifer Johns, CFRE classes, and respite care to families of children with an Director, Mercyhealth autism spectrum disorder Development Foundation • Distributed hundreds of toys to pediatric patients through As we venture into 2020 at our annual Holiday Toy Drive the Mercyhealth Development • Supported initiatives, such as the Kangaroo-a-Thon, in the Foundation, it’s a good Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to encourage the growth and opportunity to look back on development of premature newborns what we have accomplished • Funded massages for cancer patients to promote healing this past year. With generous and relaxation gifts from you, our donors, we • Raised more than $30,000 for Mercyhealth at Home at our were able to touch the lives annual Golf Play Day of all segments of our population. I am excited to share with • Provided free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured you the many ways your donations are making a difference area women for patients and families at Mercyhealth. • Contributed more than $100,000 in support to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile that provides free medical and In 2019, the Mercyhealth Development Foundation: dental care to area children in need • Opened a new Pediatric Healing Garden at Javon Bea • Raised more than $62,000 through the Partner Crisis Hospital–Riverside, after raising the $850,000 needed to Program to provide assistance to nearly 50 employees create this tranquil, green space experiencing crises • Awarded 30 LUCAS Chest Compression Systems to help area EMS agencies save lives We hope you take great satisfaction from all the things you • Raised more than $180,000 for the House of Mercy have helped make possible for our patients, their families and Homeless Center at our annual House of Mercy Charity Ball the community. The positive and far-reaching effects of these • Provided $100,000 in sponsorships to community programs will be felt for years to come, from enhancing care organizations and comfort to saving lives. And, with your support, we can • Funded scholarships for Mercyhealth paramedic students continue to make a difference in 2020 and beyond. On behalf • Provided sensory and safety equipment, social skills of the many individuals who benefit from your donations, thank you for sharing our passion for making lives better.

New Law Impacts Retirement Planning by Charles Slamar, Vice President, taking your RMD by April 1 of the year after you turned 70½. Thompson & Associates That age has now been raised to 72. However, if you had started your RMD under the old law, you cannot stop and The SECURE (Setting Every Community then resume them once you turn 72. Since the failure to take Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act RMD carries significant penalties (50% of the amount that became effective January 1, 2020. It should have been distributed), you should confirm with your may change not only how you save IRA custodian if there is any doubt which rule applies to you. for retirement, but how withdrawals are made from your retirement plan. In either event, the Act leaves unchanged the age at which Although intended to strengthen an IRA owner can make transfers directly to charity from retirement savings, some worry that it may also hurt savers. their IRA (Qualified Charitable Distributions/QCDs or IRA There are three major changes in the new law. Charitable Rollovers). A previous article addressed how once you reach 70½, you can direct up to $100,000 annually from First, the Act eliminates the maximum age for contributing your IRA to the charities of your choice. Although this amount to an IRA. Previously, once you reached 70½ years old, you will not qualify for a charitable income tax deduction, it will could no longer make tax-deductible contributions. Now you count against your RMD and not be included in your income can, regardless of your age. However, these contributions for the year. With itemizing income tax deductions out of must come from “earned income”, such as wages or other reach for most of us, this is a great tax-efficient and cost- compensation. Dividends, interest, and rents (so called effective manner of fulfilling our charitable intentions. “passive income”) do not count in this regard. However, the Act does provide that certain payments to graduate students The third major change is that the Act shortens to 10 years and foster care providers may qualify as compensation. the period available to “stretch” RMDs of inherited IRAs. Previously, one who became an IRA beneficiary by reason Second, the Act increases the age at which you must start of the death of its owner could substitute their life making withdrawals from your IRA (known as required expectancy for the owner’s to determine the annual RMD. minimum distributions or RMDs). Previously, you had to start Continued on page 7 To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 6 Mercyhealth Development Foundation Foundation’s 16th Annual Holiday Toy Drive Yields Record-Breaking Success! The Mercyhealth Development Foundation held its largest Mercyhealth Development Foundation. “Thanks to all our and most successful Holiday Toy Drive on Thursday, loyal sponsors and generous donors, the Foundation is able December 12, collecting more than 1,000 toys and raising to provide Mercyhealth’s youngest patients with toys and more than $30,000 for pediatric patients receiving care games that will help distract, soothe and entertain them as throughout Mercyhealth. Generous donors dropped off toys they face illness or injury throughout the entire year.” throughout the morning and enjoyed breakfast, holiday music by the Boylan Catholic High School Octaves, inspirational The Foundation extends its gratitude to the following testimonials from patients and area organizations, a individuals and businesses that donated toys or made a broadcast from WIFR-TV, and a special visit from Santa. monetary gift to the annual Holiday Toy Drive: Holiday Miracle Sponsors Nearly 175 people attended the Toy Drive. Mercyhealth Epic Systems patients and families shared uplifting stories of how they Napleton’s Autowerks, Inc. have benefited from toy donations during their care and treatment. The event also featured presentations by many Santa Sponsors area organizations that collected toys, including the K Cancer Mercyhealth MD-1 Physicians Baseball and Softball Teams, the Rockford Public Schools Rockford Mutual Insurance Company/Sadie’s Dream 205 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, and St. Rita for a Cure Catholic School. Rohlik Financial Group

Following breakfast, Santa put smiles on children’s faces Sleigh Sponsors by delivering the new toys to pediatric patients hospitalized Crusader Community Health on the Level III (highest level) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Joe Cooling & Sons, Inc. Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, and those Kelso-Burnett Co. receiving care in the Emergency Department of Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside. Holiday Tree Sponsors Larson & Darby Group “Our Toy Drive is successful because of the continued Mercyhealth Emergency Physicians, support of the community,” said Jennifer Johns, Director of Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside and Rockton Mercyhealth RMH Auxiliary Volunteers Pecatonica Community Dodge Ball Tournament Continued from page 6 Plumbers & Pipefitters U.A. Local 23 This permitted the new beneficiary to spread the income tax Rasmussen College consequences of their withdrawals over a longer period of Sterling Commercial Roofing, Inc. time rather than having to report them all at once or within Eric Thornburg five years. Concerned that those who inherited IRAs would Wilson Electric Co. quickly spend them down, assuring the stretch provisions by so called “conduit trusts” became a popular estate-planning Many thanks also go to the Caroler and Elf Sponsors, as tool. These new rules do not apply if a spouse, minor (until well as those businesses who served as Toy Drive drop- reaches majority), disabled individual, chronically ill individual, off sites, including Mary’s Market, Meg’s Daily Grind, area or beneficiary not more than 10 years younger than the owner Starbucks, Williams Tree Farm and St. Anthony of Padua inherits an IRA. Although there are no annual RMDs for Catholic Church. those who are subject to this new rule (only that the entire amount must be withdrawn within 10 years), it could create As part of this year’s Holiday Toy Drive, Santa brings a toy and cheer to a an unexpected tax bill for those who fail to adjust their annual patient hospitalized on the Pediatric Unit of Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside. 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.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 7 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Rockford, IL Permit No. 685 2400 N. Rockton Ave. Rockford, IL 61103 (815) 971-4141

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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

Inspire. Give. Heal.

Mercyhealth Development Foundation 2400 N. Rockton Ave. 903 Mineral Point Ave. Thank You, Auxiliary Volunteers! Rockford, IL 61103 Janesville, WI 53548 (815) 971-4141 (608) 755-8821

2020 Board of Directors Javon R. Bea ...... President/CEO, Mercyhealth Mark Goelzer, MD...... Mercyhealth Legal Board of Directors

Board Members Patrick J. O’Keefe...... Chairman Marc Barbeau W. Walter Boothe Jason Bredenkamp, MD Chris Clapper Jere Johnson Lisa Rudy Rev. Twila Schock Eric Thornburg Kathy L. Weber

Staff Left to Right: Mercyhealth RMH Auxiliary Volunteers President and Barbra Bortner ...... Vice President, Foundation, Mercyhealth Development Foundation Board Member Lisa Rudy presents Marketing and PR, Volunteer Services a check for more than $150,000 to Foundation Board Chair Patrick Jennifer Johns...... Director O’Keefe, Mercyhealth Vice President Barb Bortner, and Foundation Anne Hagney ...... Public Relations Specialist Director Jennifer Johns at the Auxiliary’s annual meeting in November. Kristin Larson...... Development Coordinator The Auxiliary raises the funds from proceeds of sales at its Thrift Shop, Monica Phillips...... Development Coordinator Gift Shops and Holiday Markets.

To make a donation, go to mercyhealthsystem.org/foundation 8