Many individuals support organizations because they have been personally affected by their work. Others give because they know someone who has benefited from the cause. Still others donate simply because they have faith in an institution.

When it comes to National Jewish Health, John Wanderer is among those in the latter group. John, who has given generously to the nation's leading respiratory hospital for more than a quarter century, most recently with funds from his IRA, has never been a patient there—nor does he know anyone who has received care at the institution. A resident of Las Vegas, John has never even visited the hospital located in Denver.

His connection to National Jewish Health is indirect. John's brother, Phillip, suffered with severe asthma from childhood. Phillip's condition was so dire, doctors in New York recommended his mother move him to the dry climate in Las Vegas to help ease his symptoms. The family did just that in 1946. John also developed asthma when he was about eight years old, but it was never uncontrolled like Phillip's could be.

"Many years ago, I read about National Jewish Health and was intrigued with everything they were doing, not only with asthma, but with autoimmune conditions," John explains. "I thought that's a worthy institution to support, in part because they deal with things that were so close to me and my family."

Unfortunately, Phillip passed away in August 2019 from complications related to his lifelong condition. "He lived a hard life dealing with asthma," John says. "I have been fortunate not to really have anything severe."

John, who practiced law in Las Vegas for 40 years, supports numerous healthcare and environmental organizations because he believes in their missions. "You need to support them to the extent you can," he declares. "I figure that's the way it's supposed to be."

Though most of his gifts have come from his after-tax income, John began giving through required minimum distributions (RMDs) from his IRA once he reached age 70½.* "It's a tax-saving thing, and that saving frees up additional money that can be donated," he says. "If you're going to give the money, you might as well give it out of an IRA to have that much less to pay income tax on."

If you would like to make a significant impact on patients from around the world who visit National Jewish Health seeking care for devastating lung, heart and immune-related diseases, please consider giving to the institution from your IRA. For more information, please contact Gordon P. Smith, MBA, CFRE at 1.800.423.8891, Ext. 6549 or smithgo@njhealth.org. After all, there is no greater gift than life and good health.

*The SECURE Act, which was enacted into law on Jan. 1, 2020, changed the age to begin taking required minimum distributions from 70½ to 72. Learn more about how you may have been affected here.