In honor of National Healthcare Hospitality Week and the House’s 13th Birthday, the House seeks to acknowledge a very familiar face and guiding force of the mission, Jan L. Weinstock, Esq.
Jan is a Philadelphia-area native and received an undergraduate business degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to receive her law degree from Villanova University and began working with a large Philadelphia law firm in the Healthcare Law department.
Around the second year of practice at her firm, she was introduced to Gift of Life Donor Program, then called the Delaware Valley Transplant Program, as an external client. Jan worked closely with House founder and former President of Gift of Life, Howard M. Nathan, and recognized his “incredibly high standards” and “his commitment to the families and to doing the right thing”.
She continues, “For years Howard said, “It would just be easier if you would come and work directly with me”, and about 23 years ago I did make that decision to transition from being a partner in this large firm to being general counsel for Gift of Life… and I have never once regretted that decision.”
Her career with Gift of Life spans more than 30 years, with monumental accomplishments that continue to impact thousands of lives. She mentions that extending the Gift of Life’s services to be able to open the doors of the House is one of the personal highlights of her career.
“When I joined Gift of Life part of my responsibilities at the time were to locate and oversee the construction of our new headquarters, as well as a “Family House”, now of course Gift of Life Howie’s House. The House represents our completion of the circle of care because we have always provided excellent care to the donor families, but this was our first opportunity to provide this type of support to the people going through the transplant journey. It was amazing the day we opened it up.”
Jan also emphasized how impactful her first Donor Family Remembrance Ceremony was, which provides the opportunity to recognize the families that supported organ donation in the prior year.
“It is momentous to me because it is a celebration of humanity, no transplant would happen without a decision to give the gift of life after the passing of a family member or loved one… These ceremonies show the families that we’re not in it just for a single moment, we are with them for the journey.”
When it comes to how she spends her time outside of work, she explains, “As long as I am outside, I am happy.” Jan loves running, hiking, traveling, and has even competed in various triathlons. She says her next goal would be to complete the swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco Bay.
Jan’s years of dedication to the organ donation and transplant community have been integral to the success of Gift of Life Donor Program and Gift of Life Howie’s House. In her eyes, the House represents the past, present and future of Gift of Life as a whole.
She explains, “The House to me represents the past, the 50 years of service of Gift of Life that supported the opening of House’s doors, it represents Howard’s vision, and the time and energy of our team and volunteers, and the generosity of contributors to actually support the building and day to day operations of the House … and now, 13 years later, to never have turned anybody away due to inability to pay, that’s an extraordinary accomplishment. It also represents the future for those who are awaiting a life-saving transplant – and we will be here to support them in their journey.”
Over 17 years ago, Sean Rhoads made the generous decision to become a living liver donor to his close friend who was suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, thus saving her life. However, rare complications from his surgery left him in desperate need of a transplant himself. Just two weeks later, Sean received a life-saving transplant thanks to an organ donor hero.
Gift of Life Howie’s House was not in existence when Sean received his transplant, so his parents stayed at a nearby hotel for nearly 3 months during his hospitalization. He knows they would have benefited greatly from the services the House provides. Sean eventually recovered from his surgery and currently resides in Canada with his wife, Keri.
Wanting to help other families like his, Sean has been supporting the mission of the House annually since 2012. Recently, Sean and Keri decided to make a planned gift and joined the Gift of Life Howie’s House Legacy Society.
“It’s good to be able to donate every year, but when you’re gone, those donations stop. If you care enough about a cause to support it, I think it’s important to continue supporting even after you’re gone,” says Sean.
Please join Sean Rhoads as a member of the Legacy Society for Planned Giving. To learn more about making a planned gift to the House, please visit GiftofLifeHowiesHouse.org or call 267-546-9812.
Each year, many individuals are faced with the task of creating a will, yet many might find themselves putting off this important task. With National Make-A-Will Month approaching, there is no better time to address this crucial aspect of life planning. Make-A-Will Month serves as a suitable reminder of the importance of estate planning and ensuring that your wishes are legally documented and honored. The benefits of creating a will extend far past the peace of mind that it provides.
Throughout the month of August, we are encouraging individuals to plan ahead and create/update their will. Creating a will does not only entail distributing assets, but also making sure that your wishes are carried out accordingly. Without a will, the state in which you reside has control over your assets and decides where they should be distributed, which may not always align with your wishes. Having a will reduces stress and heartache for your loved ones who are already faced with grief and loss.
While the process of creating a will may seem long and tedious, it is not as time-consuming as you’d think. With the right legal assistance and resources, the process can run very smoothly.
Here at the House, you can ensure the future success of our mission by joining the Legacy Society for Planned Giving. By making a planned gift, you will help to ensure that we can maintain our affordable fees and a broad array of services for all who need us, now and in the future. Legacy Society Member, Sean, emphasized the importance of giving back. “If you really care about a cause or a charity, its good to be able to donate every year, but when you’re gone, those donations stop. If you care about a cause enough to support it, I think its important to keep supporting it even after you’re gone,” Sean explained. Visit the Legacy Society for Planned Giving page here to learn more about how you can make a difference in the lives of the transplant families we serve.
We hope that you will celebrate National Make-A-Will Month this August by making a planned gift to support our mission.
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