My name is Elizabeth, and like you, I’m a dedicated supporter of St Vincent’s. For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering my time at St Vincent’s, a role that has brought deep meaning and connection to my life. And more recently, I have made the decision to include a gift in my Will for oncology research at St V’s.
After losing my father to cancer, I moved to Australia from the United States in 2012. In the US, I had balanced a busy corporate life by volunteering at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. That experience showed me the power of providing compassionate care to those in need and the quest to find answers to challenging medical problems.
When I arrived in Melbourne, I hoped to find an organisation with similar values; Australia had welcomed me with open arms, so I was looking for a way to connect and give back to my new community. With volunteering in mind, 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.” 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.
As a St Vincent’s ‘Angel’ volunteer, I’ve hosted activities, served tea to patients, and spent time reading and talking with patients in palliative care at Caritas Christi Hospice. These fulfilling experiences have deepened my understanding of Australia’s diverse cultural heritage and strengthened my passion to contribute further.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I became a patient myself. Despite living closer to another hospital, I asked a friend to take me to St Vincent’s public hospital – the healthcare provider I trusted most. 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.
So, when the St Vincent’s Foundation Gifts in Wills Manager, Kristy, asked me recently if I would consider leaving a gift in my Will to St Vincent’s, my answer was a resounding yes.
I’ve seen first-hand the impact St Vincent’s makes, not just in patient care, but through its groundbreaking medical research. What inspires me most is their commitment to open collaboration with leading researchers and institutions, and to sharing discoveries for the broader public good. This reflects the values I hold dear: trust, evidence, and meaningful outcomes - values that St Vincent’s truly exemplifies.
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.
But my bequest is more than a gesture of goodwill and gratitude, it’s a commitment to trust, and my faith that St Vincent’s is a worthy recipient of my current and future support. I know I’m not alone. I am just one of many who has benefited from the exceptional and world-class care of St Vincent’s. Through a gift in your Will, you too can give back and make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that is a leader in healthcare and medical research – an organisation that truly lives by their commitment to provide compassionate care to every person in our community.
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. Will you consider making an incredible impact for our community through a gift in your Will – a gift that continues to give long beyond your own lifetime?
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it inspires you to reflect on your own journey with St Vincent’s and to take a moment to consider the kind of legacy you’d like to leave.
Warm regards,
Elizabeth
P.S. If you’re considering leaving a gift in your Will to St Vincent’s, now or in the future, I highly recommend reaching out to have a chat with Kristy Lawler, the Gifts in Wills Manager on (03) 9231 3118 or via email kristy.lawler@svha.org.au
P.P.S. If you have already left a gift in your Will for St Vincent’s, please let Kristy know so she can understand your wishes, keep you updated on their work, and most importantly, thank you for your meaningful and generous gift.
After losing my father to cancer, I moved to Australia from the United States in 2012. In the US, I had balanced a busy corporate life by volunteering at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. That experience showed me the power of providing compassionate care to those in need and the quest to find answers to challenging medical problems.
When I arrived in Melbourne, I hoped to find an organisation with similar values; Australia had welcomed me with open arms, so I was looking for a way to connect and give back to my new community. With volunteering in mind, 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.” 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.
As a St Vincent’s ‘Angel’ volunteer, I’ve hosted activities, served tea to patients, and spent time reading and talking with patients in palliative care at Caritas Christi Hospice. These fulfilling experiences have deepened my understanding of Australia’s diverse cultural heritage and strengthened my passion to contribute further.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I became a patient myself. Despite living closer to another hospital, I asked a friend to take me to St Vincent’s public hospital – the healthcare provider I trusted most. 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.
So, when the St Vincent’s Foundation Gifts in Wills Manager, Kristy, asked me recently if I would consider leaving a gift in my Will to St Vincent’s, my answer was a resounding yes.
I’ve seen first-hand the impact St Vincent’s makes, not just in patient care, but through its groundbreaking medical research. What inspires me most is their commitment to open collaboration with leading researchers and institutions, and to sharing discoveries for the broader public good. This reflects the values I hold dear: trust, evidence, and meaningful outcomes - values that St Vincent’s truly exemplifies.
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.
But my bequest is more than a gesture of goodwill and gratitude, it’s a commitment to trust, and my faith that St Vincent’s is a worthy recipient of my current and future support. I know I’m not alone. I am just one of many who has benefited from the exceptional and world-class care of St Vincent’s. Through a gift in your Will, you too can give back and make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that is a leader in healthcare and medical research – an organisation that truly lives by their commitment to provide compassionate care to every person in our community.
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. Will you consider making an incredible impact for our community through a gift in your Will – a gift that continues to give long beyond your own lifetime?
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it inspires you to reflect on your own journey with St Vincent’s and to take a moment to consider the kind of legacy you’d like to leave.
Warm regards,
Elizabeth
P.S. If you’re considering leaving a gift in your Will to St Vincent’s, now or in the future, I highly recommend reaching out to have a chat with Kristy Lawler, the Gifts in Wills Manager on (03) 9231 3118 or via email kristy.lawler@svha.org.au
P.P.S. If you have already left a gift in your Will for St Vincent’s, please let Kristy know so she can understand your wishes, keep you updated on their work, and most importantly, thank you for your meaningful and generous gift.
