Wondering What Your Legacy Will Be?

It’s only natural as we age to think about what we will leave our children, grandchildren and generations beyond in the way of a legacy. For some it will be a financial portfolio, Grandma’s china, Grandpa’s stamp collection, prized golf clubs or tools. Many, though, recognize the value of handing down something more meaningful; your family history, life lessons and values.

The late Jack Bohlen dedicated his time and resources to ensure the continued vibrancy of Presbyterian Homes—during and after his lifetime.

Such was the case with Jack Bohlen. Jack, the former President of the Geneva Foundation, spent his entire professional career in the field of philanthropy. During that time, he spent countless years talking to donors about their legacies. He encouraged them to put their thoughts into writing and fund their plans so that all that they wished would happen at their passing would come to fruition. Jack did this for himself as well.

Jack and his wife, Alice, became residents of Lake Forest Place immediately after it was constructed and just when Jack was forming his retirement plans from RUSH Presbyterian St.

Luke’s Medical Center. Shortly thereafter, Presbyterian Homes formally established its charitable arm, the Geneva Foundation of Presbyterian Homes. Jack, together with Earl Frederick, the former President and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital and resident of Lake Forest Place, were asked to lead the newly formed Foundation. They were charged with building support to sustain the future of the charitable mission. They were successful in their endeavor and in 2011, handed over the reins to Todd Swortzel when he joined the organization as the new President and CEO of Presbyterian Homes.

Because of Jack’s proximity to the Geneva Foundation offices and his desire to help fund the needs of the charitable mission, 

Jack never ‘really’ retired. He always brought new ideas to the Foundation staff, he did consultation work with other local organizations to maximize their development plans and continued to be a leader with his own philanthropy.

Jack and Alice supported various campaigns and programs to support the Geneva Foundation. They made a memorial gift every time they lost a neighbor, supported the New Hope scholarship fund and designated a yearly gift to support Lake Forest Place residents who became financially vulnerable. They made significant gifts to the Second Century Fund Campaign, helped support the expansion of the Memory Care Support Center, made a gift in their will and also funded an endowment to perpetually support the needs of the general charitable mission. It was his last gift however, just days before his passing, when Jack and Alice made one of their most important gifts.

Jack experienced several health challenges in early 2017 which required him to reside in the Balmoral Healthcare Center for much of the year. The health care setting was not where the avid tennis player wanted to be, but the concerns of Jack’s physician cautioned him enough to stay put for a while.

During this time, he shared with Lisa Schiro, Senior Director of Development of the Geneva Foundation, that he now understood what it felt like to get old and he worried about people caring for their spouses, their families and their financial responsibilities. God forbid if anything was to ever really happen to himself or Alice. He began to be concerned about his neighbors and friends who might be financially vulnerable. Would a stay in health care heighten their concerns? He began to talk to Lisa about a plan he had for a legacy gift. He wanted to create a fund that would support his fellow Lake Forest Place neighbors if for some reason they became financially needful. And, in the days before his own passing, and true to his lifelong mantra, he put those thoughts in writing and funded the action he wanted it to take like he had guided so many others to do during his professional career.

“We, Jack and Alice Bohlen, are providing a gift of $50,000 to be used to create the Alice and Jack Bohlen Legacy Fund. Perpetual funds from the Alice and Jack Bohlen Legacy Fund will be used to protect Lake Forest Place residents who face challenging financial times. We realize that some of our Lake Forest Place residents may outlive their assets and others may face catastrophic health care crises. In these instances, we wish that the Alice and Jack Bohlen Legacy Fund will allow these residents to continue to reside at Lake Forest Place and to live with dignity, security, and among their friends in the community they call home.”

Jack passed away on October 8, 2017. He loved his Lake Forest Place community, and in establishing the Alice and Jack Bohlen Legacy Fund he desired other neighbors and friends (and other Presbyterian Homes communities) to follow their example.

Follow Jack and Alice Bohlen’s example:

Put your thoughts into writing and your words into action. There are a variety of ways you can create your legacy including using cash resources, life insurance, appreciated stock or even the refund agreement you signed when moving into your Presbyterian Homes community. To learn more about establishing your own Legacy Fund, contact Lisa Schiro, Senior Director of Development of the Geneva Foundation, at 847-979-3922 or lschiro@presbyterianhomes.org.