Improving Their Community

As residents of Ames since the late 1980s, Mary Ann and Jim Black have been intentional in planning the distribution of their estate. At the top of their list is giving back to a community that has given them so much. Among the organizations the Blacks will support is the Mary Greeley Foundation with gifts designated to mental health services, emergency services and continuing education for staff.

The Blacks have had the opportunity to get to know the providers, staff and culture of Mary Greeley well over the years. Both have received care there on several occasions, Mary Ann has served as a volunteer for decades and Jim has consulted on the development of strategies to improve quality using Lean concepts.

In giving thought to the legacy they wanted to leave after they’re gone, it was a simple choice to pay forward the wonderful care they have received — and seen delivered — at Mary Greeley. They are confident the community will benefit.

“We wanted to do something that would contribute to building an even better Ames,” Jim says. “We are thankful to live in a community that is served by the only hospital in Iowa to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. It is a great situation for the community.”

The Blacks worked with their financial planner and attorney to develop a comprehensive giving plan. With Jim’s long history in process improvement, he wanted to be sure they gave to causes that took quality and customer service seriously. Mary Ann, who worked in the Iowa State University Research Park for 15 years, wanted to be sure they supported local organizations.

Put simply, they wanted to give in a way that ensured Ames remained a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.

“The one question we kept coming back to,” Mary Ann says, “is ‘How can we make Ames an even better community?’ One way we knew we could do it was by continuing to support health care in this community.”

Before making a planned gift, the Blacks endowed a scholarship for emergency personnel. The endowment awards an annual scholarship to emergency caregivers seeking advanced education and/or training.

For more information on making a planned gift to Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, contact Sarah Heineman at 515-239-2421 or heineman@mgmc.com.