Giving back does make a difference. To me, that has always been apparent, most dramatically in terms of the impact philanthropy has had at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Donors have clearly empowered us to build a world-class institution — and the budget to build our new, cutting-edge hospital facility may not have been approved if we hadn’t been able to raise more than one-third of the cost in philanthropic dollars.
What was a revelation to me is that it makes a tremendous difference to both the recipient and the giver. I learned of this firsthand while raising funds for the new hospital. When I met with donors, you could see in their faces and hear in their voices what a positive effect giving had on them. As a donor myself, I have experienced that joy.
It is difficult to put into words just how rewarding it is to know that your gift is going to affect the care of kids from Iowa and beyond to make their lives better and give them hope for tomorrow.
This is why I give back. I may not be able to donate millions of dollars as others can (and thank goodness they can), but I know I’m an important link in the chain that will make the University of Iowa a better place, now and in the future.
Tom Scholz, M.D.
2016 We Are Phil co-head
UI professor of pediatrics