Big givers get big recognition, and lunch

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Legacy Luncheon attendees included family and friends of the donors as well as honorees. They are Alice Moreland, left, Vicky Boyce, honoree Paddy Mudd, Dottie Clements, Nancy Gasparovic, honoree Jim Simpson, Rosalie Hooper, Gary Simpson, honorees Cecil and Cora Diehl, Robin Carrico and Rudy Carrico. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Civista Health Foundation held its first recognition luncheon Thursday to honor the inaugural members of the new P.D. Brown Legacy Society.

The society is a group of philanthropic foundation supporters who have made a lasting commitment to health by making a life income gift with the foundation or by naming the foundation as a beneficiary in their estate plans.

On its 70th anniversary Civista recognized nine individuals as the first inductees into the group.

They are:

- The late Eleanor Carrico, a well-known public servant and philanthropist, who designated an inheritance.

- The late Harland and Lulu Cravat, neighbors of the hospital, who designated a five-figure unrestricted gift.

- The late Eva "Irene" Davis, a well-known philanthropist, Civista employee, volunteer, board member, patient and donor, who made a six-figure pledge to the capital campaign and followed it with a seven-figure bequest.

- Cecil and Cora Deihl, longtime supporters of Civista, who designated a life insurance policy.

- The late Eleanor Fergusson, a former nurse and newborn nursery supervisor at Civista, who designated a large gift to the hospital's birthing center.

- Paretta "Paddy" Mudd, a retired Civista nurse, who designated her retirement payments for the remainder of her lifetime.

- The late Carl and Eileen Portofee, whose posthumous six-figure gift was the first of its kind to the capital campaign for the expansion of Civista Medical Center.

- Former senator James and Barbara Simpson, who named Civista as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

- The late Ethelyn Slifko, a former member of the foundation's board of directors, who named the foundation as a partial beneficiary of her residual estate.

The recognition luncheon speakers included Paul Genevie, Civista Health Foundation chairman, who discussed the naming of the P.D. Brown Legacy Society. The society is named for Brown, chairman of the building committee for the hospital in the 1930s and the first volunteer board chairman of Civista Medical Center (then Physicians Memorial Hospital).

Noel Cervino, interim president and CEO of Civista, expressed appreciation for the foundation board members and donors who set an example of philanthropy.

The nine inductees were then presented by Christine Parker and Mollie Gieseman, foundation board members and co-chairwomen of the foundation's Planned Giving Council.

Executive Director Susan Vogel closed the inaugural luncheon with an announcement of the seven-figure bequest from longtime foundation champion Eva Irene Davis.

The foundation welcomes traditional gifts through its annual campaign, corporate giving and event participation, which all support the current needs of Civista Medical Center. For more information, call Vogel at 301-609-4132.