A Legacy of Care: Meet Joan B.
Generosity has shaped every chapter of Joan’s life. From a career devoted to healthcare and education to a retirement spent serving others, Joan has never lost sight of her values. At 92 years old, that’s not something everyone can say.
At the heart of those values is a simple belief. Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, and we need more people dedicated to providing it. When you listen to Joan talk about her career, this conviction shines through.
She began her professional journey as a nurse in New York. It wasn’t long before she became involved in nurse education, and her interest in teaching grew. Because her mother was a teacher, education was a natural fit. Later, Joan helped found Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), a national organization that encourages students to pursue careers in healthcare. The organization was the first of its kind and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. She also served as Manager of Vocational Programs for the New Jersey Department of Education. These programs helped students develop the skills needed to succeed in the workforce.
“I’m committed to health because I am a nurse, and I’ve been involved in teaching people to become health workers,” she said. “I’m committed to education because it is so very important, and we need more people in the healthcare industry.”
Now, well into her retirement, she volunteers for an organization that provides elder care support and companionship. But Joan’s generosity goes even further. As a longtime supporter of CMMB, she also chose to extend that commitment into the future by including CMMB in her estate plans.
“I have taken the time to choose those charities that are the most important to me,” she said. “These decisions are made thoughtfully and are aligned with my values. The charities selected have been funded for several years, and I am confident that they will continue to use my funding wisely in the years ahead. Finally, I do not leave these important decisions to others after my death, but make them myself, now. That’s what planned giving means to me.”
Joan pointed to many facets of CMMB’s work, from our emergency relief efforts and delivery of healthcare to our support for children with disabilities and their parents. Ultimately, Joan’s generosity is inspired by work that reaches those who are “hidden” and serves the forgotten.
But Joan told us that there is something else special about CMMB.
“I have criteria for charitable donations,” she said. “One of them is unique and uses the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. I choose organizations that utilize them in a very responsible manner.”
The common good, human dignity, and a world where every human being can flourish are pillars of Catholic Social Teaching and central to CMMB’s mission.
“Thank you to all the [CMMB] people who work around the world. To be a little part of making the world healthier. That’s just amazing.”