After surviving a life-threatening injury, Garth and Joanne turned gratitude into action—leaving a legacy gift in their Will to ensure future patients receive the same life-saving care.
When Garth and his wife Joanne were updating their Will, they reflected on the life-changing collision that nearly took Garth’s life. Deeply grateful for the care that saved him, they wanted their estate plan to reflect the values shaped by that experience, with Sunnybrook at the very heart of their legacy.
“Most people don’t realize they can make a future philanthropic commitment in their Will that will have an impact for years to come,” they said.
For Garth, the experience remains deeply personal. After a critical injury in a 2004 collision, he was airlifted to Sunnybrook, where he spent four months recovering and underwent over 15 surgeries over the next four years. Grateful for the life-saving care he received, Garth and his wife Joanne made a legacy gift to Sunnybrook to support trauma and emergency care.
“When I look back, it’s clear to me that Sunnybrook gave me a second chance to live,” Garth shares. “They didn’t just treat my injuries, they helped me reclaim a future I wasn’t sure I’d have.”
What stood out to him most was the team-based approach and compassionate care of the medical staff. “We thought—when we get to the point where we both pass away, our estate has to go somewhere. What better way to say thank you?”
Garth and Joanne worked with a financial advisor who valued legacy giving. Together, they created an estate plan that supports their financial and philanthropic goals, and helps ensure Sunnybrook’s continued leadership in patient care, research and innovation. “My legacy gift is a reflection of the life I’ve been given—and the life I look forward to every day.” Garth and Joanne have deep trust in Team Sunnybrook, confident that their gift will be honoured and thoughtfully carried forward. Today Garth lives in the country with his wife Joanne and their dog Bear, in a dream home he designed while rebuilding their life together.
“I recommend anyone looking to make a lifelong impact consider legacy giving,” he says. “It’s simple, easy, and it can be for anyone, at any level of giving.”
Planned giving is easier than you think, contact Christa Kelly at christa.kelly@sunnybrook.ca.
