Leaving a Legacy: Comments from Sally Welsh, RN, MSN, NEA-BC
“The greatest legacy one can leave behind is to positively impact the lives of others. Whenever you add value to other people’s lives, you are unknowingly leaving footprints on the sands of time that live on, even after your demise.” —Emeasoba George
As a nurse who spent a large part of my career in oncology and later hospice and palliative care, I know how important it is to have my end-of-life affairs in order, including how I want my estate to be distributed. As I prepared my will and other planning documents, I spent time thinking about who and what initiatives and organizations I wanted to designate as beneficiaries.
Upon reflection, I chose to focus on three areas: my family, my faith, and professional/community organizations.
1. Why are you passionate about your support of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) and its mission?
As a Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) member; past chapter chairman; and past chief executive officer of HPNA, the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), and HPNF (2012–2019), I have seen how these three organizations support nurses and other team members to enhance their practice and thus impact both patient care and “advance expert care in serious illness” through education, practice, research, and advocacy. I know what a difference hospice and palliative care can make in the lives of patients and their families. Through my legacy gift, my wish is to provide support for future hospice and palliative nurses and to help expand access to palliative and hospice care.
2. Why did you choose to include HPNF in your legacy planning?
I am grateful for my nursing career and want to support the profession and the specialty of hospice and palliative nursing. I have had many great experiences and mentors along the way. Throughout the various clinical and executive positions that I have held, I always strived to look for opportunities to enhance patient care and to support the nurses and the nursing profession.
I believe that supporting HPNF with a legacy gift is a way for me to continue to support nurses and the specialty of hospice and palliative nursing.
3. How does it make you feel to know that you will have a lasting impact on hospice and palliative care long into the future?
Being able to provide a legacy gift to HPNF makes me feel happy and proud. I know the funds will be well spent and will have positive outcomes.
HPNF is extremely grateful to Sally and the other generous donors who have included HPNF in their estate plans. If you would like to learn more about leaving a legacy to support our mission, contact Jillian Pritts at jillianp@hpnf.org or call 412-282-8220.