A win-win-win

Douglas and Heather Greene created three scholarships that will help students interested in health care.

Fueled by their desire to help others, Douglas and Heather Greene's generosity has touched many diverse organizations, including Legacy Health. They recently made two significant contributions to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center—a $60,000 charitable gift annuity for a scholarship fund and a $500,000 transformational pledge to the Breast Health Center.

"We are thrilled to help this exceptional hospital continue to provide the very best care," Douglas says. "Most important to us is the ability to do good now, rather than later."

With a passion for education, the Greenes strongly believe in giving a hand up to those less fortunate. They also know how devastating it is to lose someone to cancer—breast cancer claimed Douglas's first wife, and brain cancer took Heather's late husband. "There's something that happens when a loved one is challenged by cancer," Heather notes. "The environment of the hospital is very important."

Directing funds from his late wife's trust into a charitable gift annuity, Douglas established the Janet P. Greene Scholarship Fund, which will create three $1,000 scholarships for either high school or college students who are active volunteers at Legacy Salmon Creek and are interested in health care.

Charitable gift annuities are easy to set up because they don't require an attorney. They also offer you lifetime income, as well as a tax deduction for a portion of the gift. "It's a win-win-win for the donor, the recipient and the foundation," Douglas says.

"We feel fulfilled," Heather says, "because if you can do just a tiny bit to help someone else, it fills your heart."

Douglas notes another benefit. "It's really building the future of our communities," he says. "I don't know if there's any better way."

A serial inventor, Douglas has developed numerous consumer products. His most recognized products are the SKYTECH remote controls, which include more than 25 remote control systems for gas fireplaces that retrofit all gas logs and fireplaces in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. Recently, he introduced the Aqua Smart, a programmable, remote thermostat to retrofit electric water heaters, reducing energy consumption. Heather has had an extensive career in business, the arts, film and high fashion.

Gifts that give back

If you'd like to learn more about gifts that make payments to you, please contact Joshua Goldstein, MBA (he/him) at 503-413-3501 or jigoldst@lhs.org.