Giving Heart-to-Heart

Inge and Peter Manes had already shared a lifetime together by the time they moved into their La Jolla home in 1987. Meeting in England more than 70 years ago, they first crossed the Atlantic and then crossed the country, from Cleveland to California. When they sold their business after working "25 hours a day, eight days a week" for nearly two decades, they were ready to enjoy life.

They travelled frequently, and attended concerts and operas at their favorite venue, the Hollywood Bowl. They began supporting local music, arts and theater groups - and Scripps Health.

"We always wanted to help others and we finally had enough money to do it," Peter says.

Through the years, Peter says the couple had first-hand experience with the excellent care provided by Scripps, so support came easily for them. Inge had been diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla; and Peter's first hospitalization in his life about four years ago left a lasting impression.

"I was utterly amazed with the care I received," Peter adds. "I was so impressed I wrote letters to everyone - to the doctors, the nurses, even the maintenance department."

Peter's reasons for making a bequest in Inge's memory are equally simple and powerful. In January 2010, Inge suddenly collapsed after the couple attended a play in Balboa Park and never regained consciousness. Doctors told Peter she died from "intermittent heart arrhythmia," a condition that is difficult to detect and treat.

"That's when I decided that more heart research was needed," Peter says.

To support heart care research, Peter designated a gift from his estate to the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, the Scripps new world-class heart care center that is currently under construction. This kind of gift, called a bequest, allows donors to retain full use of their assets throughout their lifetime and may be made in a number of ways, such as through an IRA or other retirement plan. This type of gift can be included in a will or trust, or Scripps Health can be named as the beneficiary on the beneficiary designation form provided by a plan custodian.

Today, Peter continues to enjoy life with his second life partner, Yoko Sakaguchi, who is a Scripps volunteer. Both of their names appear on the gift to Scripps in honor of Inge's memory, and together they pursue their mutual love of arts, music and travel.

View our sample language for your will or trust.