We have been seeking answers from the UC Foundation and have received no help in the past two years after emails to twenty plus of their officers.
The foundation is the recipient of our family fortune, changed by my mother on her deathbed, yet no one has shared with me, an only daughter, how the funds of over $600K are being used. No one is answering if anything is truly dedicated in the deceased’s name, per the terms of her trust, nor to whom the scholarships she requested have been granted. Much of the funds were from our family loaned to her for her long term care needs, and UC received all of those also. Yet still to my knowledge neither she nor the family are being recognized or honored as donors.
This is stonewalling which comes across as extremely uncaring of the family of a major donor. Neither she, nor anyone in our family, had any association whatsoever with UC, so I can not even ask for the help of the Alumni Association.
Hence I give the Foundation a poor rating and hope that other families do not suffer the same fate nor make bequeathals because there is no indication that they use the funds in the way they were requested.
In April 2015, I was asked to help announce a major gift to the Brain Tumor Center within the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute -- I am employed by the UC Foundation, the fundraising arm of UC and UC Health.
Through the announcement, I met Nancy and LP Jones, two priests who had been dealt an unfair hand. In October 2014, LP was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer.
I learned the average survival from diagnosis is about 14 months. LP was told he may not be around to see the birth of his second grandchild. What a heartbreaking diagnosis.
While working on the gift announcement for the Brain Tumor Center, I received a text message from my mom. A family friend -- Laura Etter -- had been diagnosed with glioblastoma. My heart dropped.
This cancer is supposed to be rare, with only about 12,000 people in the United States being diagnosed each year. It does not seem to be that rare.
In August, the foundation announced a $54.5 million fundraising campaign for the UC Neuroscience Institute that aims to provide a new facility to benefit people with neurologic and psychiatric diseases. People like LP. People like Laura.
I give back to the UC Neuroscience Institute because I hope for a cure for all of them.
Review from #MyGivingStory