It started with a phone call

John Carey was impressed with the outstanding care his niece and nephew received at Children’s Wisconsin, for everything from pneumonia to ear tube surgery. So, in 1998, when John first tuned into WKLH’s Miracle Marathon—an annual two-day radiothon where patients, families and providers share their stories to raise funds for Children’s—he decided to call and pledge $25 a month.

Little did John know that Miracle Marathon would spark a lifelong passion for Children’s. In 2015, he decided to volunteer and answer calls during the radiothon. “I’ve been doing it every year since then,” John said. “It’s very fulfilling. You get to talk to a lot of great people and hear their stories.”

John, a senior sales representative with electrical distributor Border States, encourages his coworkers and long-time customers to support Children’s. Every year, he collects contributions and donates the total when Miracle Marathon has a triple-match hour. During this year’s event, contributions were matched and totaled over $10,000.

John wanted his support for Children’s to continue, so in 2017 he established an estate gift designating Children’s as a beneficiary of his insurance and company stock. “Just in case, I wanted to set things up to help kids,” he said. By including Children’s in his estate, John’s generosity will continue to benefit kids and families for generations to come.

Over the years, John’s respect for Children’s only continues to grow. “They don’t turn anybody away,” he noted. “They find new ways to treat kids, even when it’s one in a million. I knew how good Children’s was, but seeing it firsthand when I volunteer in the phone bank, I can make the connection because I can see real people being helped.”

You can join John in extending your support of Children’s Wisconsin with a gift through your estate that will benefit future generations. Contact Kelly Sachse at (414) 266-6121 or ksachse@childrenswi.org .