Donor Stories

Joanna Weiss may seem a bit young to support Children’s Memorial Hospital through her estate plan. Yet, her reasons for giving are compelling for those of any age. A businesswoman who spent years working in advertising, then as a stock broker in venture capital and investment banking, Weiss is now a Mortgage Banker with The Private Bank Mortgage Company in Chicago. She is single, active in professional and volunteer organizations and the proud aunt of two nephews who reside in Denver, Colorado.

“I think everyone should do their estate planning early on. Two occurrences motivated me to do so. The first was the relatively early death of my mother at 52. Then, just 10 months later when my father passed away, I realized that a more specific plan could have better benefited his charitable organizations,” remembers Weiss.

When she decided to organize her estate plan, Weiss chose her church, her college sorority, the opera and Children’s Memorial Hospital as beneficiaries.

“One of the reasons that I chose Children’s Memorial is my belief that every child, regardless of financial status, should have a place to go when illness or injury strikes. They should have access to care that is not just average, but excellent,” said Weiss, who was hospitalized when she was 10 years old for a ruptured appendix at a time when her parents were out of the country.

She first became involved with Children’s Memorial Hospital through pro bono work with The Children’s Service Board, eventually becoming a board member of that organization. As a deferred-gift donor, she is also a member of the John P. Wilson Society at the hospital and is “honored to be in the company of its members.”

“I think Children’s Memorial really looks at a child’s quality of life and helps parents make the tough decisions involved in a child’s care,” says Weiss. “I’m proud to support Children’s Memorial.”