Supporting Those Who Need It Most

A growing connection to Rush inspires Wayne and Margie Janus to give back today and plan for tomorrow.

By Laura Lane-Garavaglia

For Wayne and Margie Janus, what began as curiosity about Rush grew into something much deeper. The more they learned about Rush’s mission to give everyone the chance to live their healthiest possible lives, the more they wanted to be part of that work — not just as patients but also as philanthropic partners.

As they became more familiar with Rush through friends and educational programs, they eventually decided to entrust their own care to Rush and recommend others move their care too.

One early experience in particular stayed with Margie. When a friend experiencing a mental health crisis was told she would have to wait months to see a psychiatrist elsewhere, Margie called Rush.

“She got in the next day,” Margie said. “It was my first amazing personal experience here.”

That experience grew into years of personal connections with Rush physicians, staff and leaders. The Januses have since seen firsthand what Wayne describes as Rush’s “unparalleled thoroughness and level of care” paired with the warmth they encounter when they walk through the doors.

The decision to give back

As their connection to Rush deepened, so did their desire to support the programs making a difference in people’s lives.

As a veteran himself with a son currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, Wayne feels a strong connection to the Road Home Program: The National Center of Excellence for Veterans and Their Families at Rush. The program is dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of veterans, service members, members of the National Guard, reservists and their families at no cost to them, regardless of discharge status.

Wayne understands that kind of care is a great need for many.

“It’s frightening that there’s so much need out there,” he said. “But knowing there are service members being cared for by Rush, and that they never get a bill, that’s a place we want to help.”

The Januses also support Rush’s Food Is Medicine program, which addresses food insecurity and increases access to fresh produce for Rush patients.

Both programs support work beyond hospital walls, which is something they greatly appreciate.

“It’s for the underdog, the person who needs it the most,” Margie said. “Rush isn’t just looking at the medical condition itself but the underlying needs that ultimately treat the whole person.”

Through their IRAs, the Januses contribute about $20,000 a year to support both programs at Rush. By making this commitment, the Januses have joined the Rush Heritage Society, a community of donors who play an important role in sustaining Rush through their estates. Rush is also a beneficiary of their donor-advised fund.

For Wayne, who has spent much of his career helping clients with taxes, investments and estate planning, charitable giving is a natural part of considering what happens to our resources after we are gone.

“We want to support the people who put in the effort,” he said. “That’s why we choose to give back to organizations like Rush that we’ve cherished during our lifetime.”

Giving through their IRAs has been one especially straightforward way to put that philosophy into practice. They have designated charitable organizations, like Rush, as beneficiaries of everything in their IRAs. It’s a simple way for them to create an impact while also making thoughtful use of their assets.

“It’s so easy to take something that would be taxable to us, like an IRA, and give that to charity instead of paying the tax,” Wayne said. “We find using our IRAs is a cost-efficient way to help those organizations.”

The Januses view their philanthropy as a smart financial decision, with results they can see today. They also view it as a way to pass along their good fortune and make a difference for the future.

“Giving it back to Rush was an easy decision,” Wayne said. “I know they’re good stewards of the money, and they’ll do everything they can to help every community.”

To learn more about gift planning or to discuss options that might be right for you, please contact Susan Sasvari, executive director of gift planning, at (312) 942-3691 or giftplanning@rush.edu.

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