We were encouraged to understand people’s hardships and to think about what we could do to cultivate and inspire our kindness, empathy, and compassion.”
Everyone has been given time, talent, and/or treasure of some kind,” says Jenna Hoff, University of Utah College of Nursing’s (CON) senior director of advancement. “Philanthropy provides opportunities for people to give of what they have and offers them a meaningful way to connect with places and causes they care about most.”
Tiching Baird, Natasha and Michael Rutkowski, and Dee Jost, represent a host of generous individuals and families who have sought opportunities to support the CON through their giving.
What links them all is more than giving; they all wanted to make a difference. They are either nurses or deeply experienced in how nurses impact families and society. “Nurses in general are caring, giving people,” Hoff says. “They oftentimes give of themselves to the point of sacrifice.”
There are three vehicles for people to support institutions and programs they care about:
OUTRIGHT GIVING – a current gift transferred from donor to the university without a pledge or commitment
ENDOWMENTS - a special fund where the gift amount or principal is invested, and the earnings are applied to a specific purpose and can be paid over a period of 5 years
LEGACY GIVING - a donation given through a bequest in an estate
ANYONE CAN HELP
Hoff describes outright giving like this: “Giving of available finances to the current needs of whatever someone is passionate about, be it scholarships, a program, or to support a faculty member.”
Tiching Baird, a recent graduate, was passionate about supporting her fellow classmates, even while she pursued her own nursing education. Tiching grew up in Taiwan. In Taiwanese culture, donating money or time is perceived as a fundamental part of a citizen’s social contract. “We were encouraged to understand people’s hardships,” she says. “And to think about what we could do to cultivate and inspire our kindness, empathy, and compassion.”
She started donating while in elementary school. For Tiching, donating money to schools or charities to help those in need “is one of the most crucial ways to improve the quality of life, reduce stress, and create a harmonious society."
She worked as a registered nurse for 16 years when she decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at the CON. During her time at the U, Tiching was committed to her giving philosophy. She particularly valued donating to fellow nursing students who needed support.
Tiching plans to continue making meaningful donations to people and causes she cares about. These contributions will not always be monetary, but they will exude her passion for giving. Tiching embodies the essence of true philanthropy in every sense of the word.
HONORING ARIA
In June 2014, Natasha and Michael Rutkowski were expecting their second child. A routine ultrasound revealed their baby, whom they had named Aria, had significant heart problems. Natasha’s obstetrician recommended an emergency C-section so they could treat Aria right away.
Immediately following her birth in Orem, Aria was flown to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Natasha and Michael soon learned that Aria was not expected to live for long.
Aria’s beautiful face and fulsome hair were those of a healthy baby. But the ventilator that helped her breathe and the tubes used to feed her told a different story.
Shortly after Aria’s passing, the Rutkowskis decided to establish endowments at every nursing college in Utah to honor her memory. The University of Utah College of Nursing would be the most personal because Aria had been cared for by University of Utah Health providers.
Supporting future nurses is vital for the Rutkowskis because of their personal experience. “They use endowments as their vehicle to give back,” Hoff says. “This creates long-term impact, while honoring their daughter at the same time.”
Endowments allow someone to specify the purpose of their gift, ensuring the gift aligns with personal passions and interests.
Michael’s grandmother and an aunt were both nurses, so he grew up well versed in the profession. Additionally, Natasha’s career in health care played a significant role in their decision to endow nursing scholarships.
At Primary Children’s Hospital, Aria needed round-the-clock care. Two nurses, Jamie and McKenzie, had both requested to be her primary nurse when they were working.
What impressed Aria’s parents about Jamie was that she intuitively understood how much Aria liked water. Arriving one day at the hospital, they found Jamie had already bathed her.
“She knew water helped relax her and felt nice,” Michael remembers. “Wow, she’s really paying attention to her. McKenzie was the same. She paid great attention to Aria’s needs.”
The Rutkowskis wanted to harness the goodwill of others. “We thought we could channel the generosity of those around us to do something meaningful in Aria’s name,” Michael explains. “Through endowments, we can support the education of future nurses, who in turn will be able to assist families like ours in the future.”
The scholarship project gave Michael a sense of purpose and a tangible way to contribute. “It gave me something good that
I felt I could accomplish, which would have huge benefits down the road in ways that we may never know about,” he says.
Aria passed away just seven weeks after being born. But Natasha and Michael’s decision to honor Aria’s memory by establishing scholarships at every public nursing college in Utah will have a profound impact that will endure far beyond her life.
In 2024, marking the tenth anniversary of Aria’s life, the Rutkowskis’ established a $25,000 scholarship at the CON. The Rutkowskis had already established two endowments at other state universities, so they understand the profound impact of their generosity.
Students receiving Aria’s scholarships have expressed their gratitude through letters and emails, emphasizing how meaningful these scholarships have been. One recipient, a single mother, shared how
the financial support helped her overcome challenges and complete her degree.
“There is a certain legacy to the scholarship we look for,” Michael says. “We ask the institutions to find student beneficiaries who demonstrate compassion and empathy in their care, the way Jamie and McKenzie had done with Aria.”
CREATING A LEGACY
Much like endowments, legacy giving ensures that someone can fulfill a goal to contribute beyond their own life to an institution or cause. For example, a legacy donor can plan through their estate to support future generations of students. This idea appealed to Dee Jost, a second career veteran nurse and CON alumna.
What sparked Dee’s career shift to nursing, after years in other fields, was a bad experience with a health provider. After she complained to a friend, the friend replied, “If you can do better, go for it.” So, she did.
In 1991, Dee joined recent high school graduates to study nursing. For Dee, it was a challenge to be a student again, sacrificing her autonomy and surviving on a small income. To her surprise, Dee received a scholarship based on her scholastic achievements. “I don’t know how they knew I was just scraping by,” she says. The scholarship allowed her to stay in school and covered her tuition and books.
“The gift was a lifeline. It really was,” she says. “I don’t know that I could have continued full time. And at this age if you lose momentum, it’s really easy to give up.”
After graduating, Dee worked in U of U Health’s burn center. Later, she became a nurse practitioner, and that led to a long career in vascular surgery at U of U Health.
Dee’s scholarship inspired her to plan for a similar legacy in her will. “I would not have had the life I had if somebody else hadn’t been compelled just to give me that financial nudge,” she says.
Depending on Dee’s longevity, the gift could be $50,000 for the college, with the interest from the investment used for ongoing scholarships.
Being of service and doing something for others is fundamental to Dee’s philosophy of both nursing and living. Through word and deed, she encourages others to follow in her and other donors’ footsteps.
“Look back at what made your current position possible,” she says. “Who do you owe thanks to? If you can help, I would really encourage you to do so. It’s one more way to give your life meaning and to recognize the building blocks that got you where you are.”
We thought we could channel the generosity of those around us to do something meaningful in Aria’s name. Through endowments, we can support the education of future nurses, who in turn will be able to assist families like ours in the future.”