Endowment - A transfer, generally as a gift, of money or property to an institution for a particular purpose. The bestowal of money as a permanent fund, the income of which is to be used for the benefit of a charity.
You may remember in August, we announced NorthBay Healthcare Foundation was collecting donations to form a Morgan Gallegos "SAVE LIVES" endowment. At the time, the endowment needed $10,000 to become a reality.
In the months that followed, donors contributed to the effort as word spread far and wide. In December and January, a number of NorthBay employees donated their company Christmas gift certificate toward the endowment as well.
Finally, a donation from the family in January pushed the funds over the goal line.
Now every penny earned as income from the $10,000 endowment will be used by NorthBay Trauma Center to educate and save lives, honoring Morgan's legacy.
We are also thankful that the family wants to take an active role in how those funds will be spent. It's their way of ensuring that Morgan's memory will live on through the generosity of donors.
"Morgan always went out of her way to make people feel comfortable," remembers her mother, Margot. "She was amazing, caring and compassionate. And when she died, there was never a doubt that she would have wanted to be an organ donor.
"It was the right thing to do," remembers Margot.
In fact, Morgan's donations so far have saved five lives, and counting. Because of her, a 51-year-old heart patient has hope, as do two kidney recipients, a 66-year-old lung transplant patient, and a 10-year-old boy with congenital liver disease.
Morgan's family hopes the funds generated from the endowment can be used by the NorthBay Trauma Center to invest in community education in subjects such as head trauma and watercraft safety, and to purchase safety equipment such as bicycle helmets, car seats, life jackets and other items that people may not be able to afford.
"Morgan wanted to be remembered," says her father, Tim, "and we're honoring her memory in a way that promotes safety, education, and compassionate care for those in need. Morgan would have liked that."
Morgan's memory is alive in our department and her photo and story on a plaque near an emergency bay remind us and inspire our hard-working staff every day about the importance of what we do and the difference we make.
Morgan once wrote, "Even I want to keep on living after death. I want people to remember me and know my name. I want to make a difference, big enough that people outside my family will be sad that I'm gone."
I wish I could tell Morgan that she has already made a big difference, and that her legacy continues to inspire us.
Be well.
