Elizabeth Chow has spent many precious moments volunteering at St Vincent’s over the past decade, whether sharing a cup of tea with patients, or reading to provide special comfort to those in palliative care.
These interactions, coupled with her personal experience as a patient, have had a deep impact on Elizabeth, igniting her passion to contribute further.
That is why Elizabeth decided to leave a gift in her Will to St Vincent’s for oncology research, a cause that carries special meaning for Elizabeth who sadly lost her father to cancer.
“As a person with a passion for research, as well as someone whose family has been affected by cancer, I’ve chosen to support St Vincent’s oncology research through a gift in my Will. If my contribution helps even one person to have a better outcome than my father, I’ll know I’ve made a meaningful impact,” she said.
Elizabeth’s interest in research started many years ago in the United States. Balancing a busy corporate life at the time, she had volunteered at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, instilling in her the importance of compassionate healthcare and seeking answers to challenging medical questions.
After Elizabeth arrived in Melbourne in 2012, she sought a similarly fulfilling way to connect and give back to her new community – a community which she said, “had welcomed [her] with open arms.”
“I considered several hospitals, but it was St Vincent’s that stood out. I saw a genuine sense of care and a deep culture of inclusiveness, one that conveyed the message of ‘Are you hurt? Come in, we can help’,” Elizabeth said.
“It was clear this was a place where I could offer my time and feel truly aligned with its values of excellent and compassionate care for every person in need,” she continued.
In 2021, Elizabeth experienced St Vincent’s from a different perspective entirely – as a patient. It was a challenging time in Victoria. Covid was rife and the public health system was under significant pressure.
“Even under the strain of the pandemic, the staff made me feel safe, heard, and cared for. That experience reaffirmed everything I believed about St Vincent’s, that it’s more than a hospital. It’s a place of holistic, authentic medical care; a leader in research, collaboration and trust,” she said.
Elizabeth said her positive experiences volunteering and as a patient receiving exceptional care made it an easy decision to leave a gift in her Will to St Vincent’s, and invited others to consider doing the same.
“I’d like to invite you to join me and a growing community of St Vincent’s supporters and grateful patients who have pledged a gift in our Wills for the future of healthcare,” she said.
“Through a gift in your Will, you too can give back and make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that truly lives by its commitment to provide compassionate care to every person in our community.”
Gifts left to us by kind supporters in their Wills have made an enormous impact on patient care, medical research, and education opportunities for our dedicated medical teams, and the significant contributions made by these selfless individuals cannot be overstated.
We are extraordinarily grateful to our many supporters who have pledged a gift in their Will for St Vincent’s, and those who are considering including St Vincent’s in their Estate plans.
To learn more about our Gifts in Wills program, please reach out to Kristy Lawler on (03) 9231 3118 or kristy.lawler@svha.org.au.
