Estate Gift Impacts Patients Struggling with Financial Toxicity
About Siblings Ruth and Tom Schuldt:
Siblings Ruth Mae Schuldt and Thomas Frederick Schuldt were raised in the Moville, IA, area by their parents Henry and Laura (Mae) Schuldt. Both Ruth and Tom attended (then) Moville Independent School. Ruth was a valedictorian graduate in 1943; Tom left school in the fall of 1961, his senior year, to enlist in the U.S. Navy and also served in the Coast Guard.
Ruth eventually worked in the life insurance industry, specializing in administration and life insurance investments. After years of military service, Tom returned to the Moville area where he and Ruth ultimately owned and managed their parents' farmland. In their later years, both Ruth and Tom resided together in a modest house in the Morningside area of Sioux City.
Both exemplified the ideals of being forthright, humble, hardworking, frugal and caring people. It was their wish to donate their life savings and proceeds from the sale of their property to Woodbury Central High School in Moville, and to area "cancer, heart, Alzheimer's and blind children charities." Modest to the end, neither Ruth or Tom wanted any acclaim for their generous donations, which will have a tremendous impact the lives of Siouxlanders from all walks of life for decades to come.
How Their Estate Gift Will Make a Difference:
The June E. Nylen Cancer Center was one of the beneficiary organizations that received a significant gift from Ruth and Tom Schuldt. Designated to our Patient Assistance Program, their estate gift will help break down barriers to patients receiving their cancer treatment.
Financial toxicity in medicine describes problems a patient has related to the cost of medical care. Several studies show that cancer patients and survivors are more likely to have financial toxicity than are people without cancer. Cancer is one of the most expensive medical conditions to treat in the United States. Cancer treatment can affect a patient’s ability to work and pay their bills and sometimes the stress of how they will cover the cost of their treatment and other expenses during treatment is just as great as the actual diagnosis.
The June E. Nylen Cancer Center’s Patient Assistance Program can provide support to aid with mortgage/rent, utilities, groceries and other basic needs to free up funds for the patient’s out-of-pocket treatment costs.
For More Information About Patient Assistance:
For more information about our Patient Assistance Program please contact Financial Navigator, Diana Ehlers, at (712) 252-9352 or EhlersD@jencc.com. A Financial Assistance Application will need to be completed to help identify your greatest need.
For More Information About Leaving a Legacy Gift to Our Cancer Center:
Please consider leaving the June E. Nylen Cancer Center in your estate plan to make a lasting difference in the lives that follow. Contact Christie Finnegan, Marketing and Fund Development Manager, at (712) 252-9444 or FinneganC@jencc.com to start the conversation about a charitable gift in your will.
