Giving gifts that matter the most

Here we are in the midst of the holidays. Every year, especially as I get older, Christmas shopping becomes less and less appealing. Don’t get me wrong, I love giving, but not in the obligatory sense that has permeated the holidays.

Having worked in the nonprofit sector for most of my career, I’ve become more attracted to the idea of giving to charities in honor of those I love and care about. You may or may not know that you can make a donation to any charity in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Helping others in need and honoring someone important to you seems like a more meaningful way to give.

At the Kootenai Health Foundation, we often receive gifts from donors in honor of or in memory of someone significant in their lives. We notify the honoree of the gift, or, in the case of a memorial gift, we advise a family member without mentioning the amount of the gift. Occasionally gifts are made of a size that would warrant a naming opportunity at the hospital.

There are many ways in which people choose to help charities. One of my favorite stories recently is about Les and Janet Atchley, who have created a donor-advised fund through the Innovia Foundation. They set it up so their two grandchildren, Brayden and Emily, get to choose a charity to give to every year. This is a wonderful way to teach young people about giving back.

This year, Brayden and Emily chose the Kootenai Health Foundation to receive their donation. After a meeting with them where we gave them some options for how their gift could be utilized, they selected the “caterpillar book,” a booklet used in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is very colorfully designed and has small pages that the nurses can flip open so when the parents are there, they can see their baby’s care instructions and progress.

For my own grandchildren this year, I will be giving them some money that they have to give away to a charity. Being teenagers who have just about everything they could possibly need (but don’t tell them that), it seems important to help them learn about giving to those who aren’t in such a situation. My hope is that, some day, when they are rich and famous, they will be significant donors to their favorite charities.

I encourage you all to consider this as you are planning your holiday shopping list. Whether you give to the Kootenai Health Foundation or to something like Press Christmas for All, or any other nonprofit, think about how you can honor a loved one while helping those truly in need.

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Julie Holt is president of the Kootenai Health Foundation.