An Investment in the Future

An international banker by trade, Jim Ferris is a savvy investor.

Soon after Jim and his wife, Jane, settled in Kensington in 1986 they joined the Scripps family through their primary care physicians, Drs. Carla and John Fox. In 2000, Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy at Scripps Mercy Hospital. The innovative care and advanced treatment she received inspired the Ferrises to begin giving to Scripps.

The couple established a charitable remainder trust designating Scripps as the beneficiary, and also joined Mercy 1000, a special donor group composed of individuals who make gifts of $1,000 or more annually to Scripps Mercy.

Charitable remainder trusts make it possible to transfer assets to a trust and receive an income based on a percentage of the value of the trust assets. At the end of the term, the assets remaining are a charitable gift to Scripps Health.

Jim had researched the benefits of this giving vehicle, and wanted to establish a charitable remainder trust using an apartment building the couple had owned for 30 years. Scripps' planned giving director was able to answer Jim's questions and help him build an expert team that made his vision a reality.

Today, Jane is cancer-free and staying healthy--including participating in the Lifestyle Change Program offered by Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, where she enjoys a broad range of activities designed for physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Jane and Jim enjoy the income they receive from their charitable remainder trust. They feel certain about their investment in Scripps and encourage others to explore the full benefits of planned giving opportunities.

"In the end, the reward of the giving is that we're helping others. And that feels good," Jim says.