St. Jude Fights Donors' Families in Court for Share of Estates

[douglas9]

Most Americans know St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through television advertisements featuring Hollywood celebrities asking for contributions or the millions of fundraising appeals that regularly arrive in mailboxes across the country.

But a select group of potential donors is targeted in a more intimate way. Representatives of the hospital’s fundraising arm visit their homes; dine with them at local restaurants; send them personal notes and birthday cards; and schedule them for “love calls.”

What makes these potential donors so special? They told St. Jude they were considering leaving the hospital a substantial amount in their wills. Once the suggestion was made, specialized fundraisers set a singular goal: build relationships with the donors to make sure the money flows to the hospital after their deaths.


https://www.propublica.org/article/st.-jude-fights-donors-families-in-court-for-share-of-estates

[arlyellowdog]

1. Fair fight

When parents get older, their kids can use their weakness to make them change their will. There are people who want their money to go to a cause, not to grown children who are well set. My oncologist told me stories of when she worked with children: finding one last vein in their head to attach an IV for chemo, watching their nausea. She also spoke of the advances brought about by St. Jude’s. The marketing is aggressive, but the advances are worth it. If you tell me that healthy adult kids are getting 4 million less in their inheritance because Mom died first so screw her wishes, I cannot be sympathetic. It’s also bogus to say money went to lawyers when there are 2 sides. We demonize everything these days. Don’t demonize St. Jude’s Hospital.

[jimfields33]

2. Agree.