Dr. Robert Baldwin

The Gilead Community Services Fund was established in 2002 with an initial donation by Dr. Robert Baldwin, as a challenge for others to see the value in Gilead and the services it provides.

That Ed “Reds” and Jane McMillan quickly accepted challenge who met the challenge and then extended a matching challenge of their own.

The Gilead Community Services Fund has many contributors who understand the value and the quality of the care Gilead provides in improving lives and building futures.

Jane & Ed McMillan

The Gilead Community Services Fund was established in 2002 with an initial donation by Dr. Robert Baldwin, as a challenge for others to see the value in Gilead and the services it provides.

That Ed “Reds” and Jane McMillan quickly accepted challenge who met the challenge and then extended a matching challenge of their own.

The Gilead Community Services Fund has many contributors who understand the value and the quality of the care Gilead provides in improving lives and building futures.

Fran Ludwig

“A faithful Gilead supporter, I have always received pleasure from the notion that each time I made a donation, I was making a difference in someone else’s life.

I was aware of Gilead’s Legacy Society, and considered it one more way to make a donation. I assumed that eventually, when the future was clear, I would revisit my will and include Gilead.

However, I have recently come to appreciate that leaving a legacy to Gilead is much more than just one more donation. My legacy gift — in any amount — joins that of others, creating a resource that can generate a new gift with every dividend. That means that long after I’m gone, I’ll be continuing to touch lives again and again and again — a sort of eternal giving.

There are many easy ways to designate that gift, and my choice to update my will turned out to be not very complicated at all.”

Kathy & Ted Clark

“Through my involvement at Gilead I have met many staff, volunteers and clients and have seen the way they work together to ensure quality care for so many. This is why Ted and I have decided to join Gilead’s Leave a Legacy Program.

Ted and I were introduced to Gilead a few years ago through ‘Quizine For a Cause’. As a result of that dinner, I became a volunteer. I have worked directly with clients as a member of the Quizine for a Cause fundraiser.

It is important that Gilead be able to continue the great work they do for their clients, the community and for mental health education.”

Lisa & Jim Kaveney

“From the beginning, we grew fond of the people and experiences we have had over the years in championing the message of hope, dignity, and empowerment of persons living with mental health concerns.

We have been long time supporters of Gilead and its mission to improve lives and build futures. It humbles me to think of the dedication of the staff, volunteers, and especially the clients of Gilead. They make donating to Gilead personal and more satisfying. Their tenacity and strength is something that I believe is an example of how ’life is about choices, so choose wisely’.

We choose Gilead because we know there is a real need for community mental health services. Jim and I donate to Gilead and feel grateful in the knowledge that people are receiving quality care and we want to ensure that those services remain intact.

As an agency administrator my standard of personal performance and goal I set for others is that we would serve and provide care equal to what I would expect for a family member. Gilead continues to achieve that standard in the quality and care it provides with expertise and compassion. We are glad to be supporters of Gilead and give thanks to all those who make these goals a reality.”

Jim & Cathy Probolus

“Cathy and I decided to join Gilead’s Leave a Legacy program to do our part to help ensure that the agency will have the means to continue its mission

Serving on the Board has enabled me to experience firsthand the challenges faced by clients and Gilead. Clients who daily have to confront a world that is at times unfriendly and daunting as well as the ongoing challenges that staff and management face in their efforts to provide the quality care and support.

All of this takes place in an economic and political climate that is charged with complex maneuvering and requires the delicate balancing of client needs versus funding. Community donations and grants provide a buffer that enables Gilead to strike a better balance in satisfying the demands placed upon it by the needs of community and the environmental forces that shape the landscape.”

Jeffrey & Suzanne Burgess

“Suzanne and I have experienced the difference Gilead has made in the lives of our clients, and how genuinely appreciative they are for the efforts and caring of our staff.

On a tour last year I met a client who tearfully expressed how happy she was, after many years of being institutionalized, to be living in her very own apartment. She was equally proud to show us the first Christmas tree she ever had. This is just one example of the many positive outcomes made possible by the generous support of Gilead’s many friends over the years.

Suzanne and I have been involved with Gilead Community Services for over 7 years. I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors, as both President and a general member, working with an Executive Team who year after year continue to provide the highest quality services and outcomes with ever decreasing State funding.

It is for these many reasons Suzanne and I made the decision to join the Legacy Society. We urge everyone committed to the mission of Gilead to make a similar provision in their estate in order to ensure that others will experience their first apartment, their first Christmas tree and the beginnings of a new and better life.”

Jean & Mike Monahan

“You don’t have to be a millionaire to leave a legacy gift to an organization you care about. One reason we chose to leave a gift to Gilead in our will is simply because we truly believe in Gilead’s mission.

In 2008 we were asked if we’d like to have a Gilead client join us for our Quizine dinner. That was when we met Norma. This year we celebrated our sixth annual Quizine dinner together.

Norma joins our family for holidays, our sons’ sporting events, or just for a simple meal or errand. It is through our relationship with her that we have learned how important and vital Gilead’s services are to the clients.

Leaving a gift to Gilead in our will is also a way to remind our children that giving to others is something we believe in, strongly. If all three of our sons catch on to our philosophy we will be contributing to the future through them.

Probably the main reason we made a bequest to Gilead in our will is for the simple fact that it makes us feel good. We can see that the money is spent wisely and we enjoy the fact that the recipients of these essential mental health services live right here, in our community.”

Russ & Leslie Hassmann, Legacy Society Members

“Leslie and I are proud to join the Gilead Legacy Society as a way of carrying on the great work that Gilead provides in our community.

Gilead has made such a difference in the life of my brother Don and we want to be able to pay it forward for other families that are struggling with a family member with mental illness.”

Suzanne & John Gaskell, Legacy Society Members

“The reason John and I chose to become Legacy Society members was a personal one. It’s our hope that our gift will benefit other individuals with mental illness, just as my son has benefitted from the legacy of thoughtful donors from the past.

Since my son has been with Gilead he has been accepted into a community that recognizes his struggle and is working with him to maximize his potential. Gilead’s clients have been accorded the dignity they deserve with effective, caring case management encouraging them onto greater independence.

I know that my gift to Gilead will help perpetuate their mission to provide quality mental health services to their clients and in so doing will contribute towards making a brighter future for all of us.”

Lauralei Clapp, Legacy Society Member

“I am a member of the Gilead Legacy Society so that Gilead can always be there for their clients.

I believe Gilead provides the services that their clients need so they can live with independence, self-confidence, and the ability to make good decisions. Without Gilead’s staff to assist in the everyday decisions and giving a helping hand, many clients would not be living on their own.

Gilead has built trust with their clients. When a problem does come up, the problem can get addressed right away with someone who has a team behind them. The stress is removed; the client can feel good having input into a positive solution.

Gilead is more than a community service agency; it allows families to trust that their family member can achieve their potential. Gilead is like a family member for the many people that they help.”

Joanne Hine, Legacy Society Member

“I became a member of Gilead’s Legacy Society because I wanted Gilead to continue it’s good work for many years to come.

Now retired from Middlesex Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, I have had “up close” knowledge of the supportive services Gilead provides to it’s clients, all with the ultimate goal of maximizing the potential of each client to reach their highest level of self-reliance.

Gilead delivers “more for less,” saving taxpayers substantial dollars. It is a privilege to work with the dedicated people who serve as board members and with the staff of Gilead Community Services to improve lives and build futures.”

Jim Meehan, Legacy Society Member

“Gilead has been around for more than 40 years, and with your support will be around for at least another 40.

We can ensure, to the best of our abilities, that Gilead will be stronger if we make provisions for them now. This can happen with committed individuals investing in Gilead’s future.

One of the most effective ways to insure that Gilead will provide quality services in the long term is to make a public statement of your commitment to their future… today.

I am a member of Gilead’s Legacy Society because of their commitment to provide quality mental health services in my community, their transparency in delivering care and the values and leadership skills of their management team.

I am sure that whatever the reasons why you support Gilead now, you will want to continue your support later. That is why the BEST way to continue supporting Gilead in the future is to carve out a portion of your estate through Gilead’s Legacy Society. Please take the time now, and speak with one of the members of Gilead’s Legacy Society to learn how to join me in investing in Gilead’s future.”

Kim Hogan, Legacy Society Member

“Becoming a member of Gilead’s Legacy Society was a decision that just made sense.

Gilead is an organization that I believe in and that I am committed to. If something was to happen to me, the portion of my life insurance directed to Gilead will allow my commitment to live on through this fund. Further, it was important for me to lead by example and join my fellow Board members that are also society members.”

Stacey Owens, Legacy Society Member

“I have decided to become a Legacy Society member because the financial support for our clients from outside resources is very limited.

I have come to know most of our clients on a personal level, and some of them do not have any family or friends outside of Gilead. Often the only help they receive comes from SSI or DSS which is not enough to live off, and makes it very difficult to make ends meet. In my 10 years working here I have come to see that Gilead can really improve the lives of the individuals we serve but we need the resources now and in the future and that is why I am investing in Gilead’s future.”

Dan & Kyle Osborne, Legacy Society Member

“We have always believed deeply in the high quality services that Gilead provides.

That is what drew me to work for this agency. Over the past 15 years, we have also come to understand the critical role that Gilead plays in our community. It is important to us that Gilead continues to provide services that improve and save lives for years and years to come. There is no better investment for us than becoming part of Gilead’s Legacy Society!”

Jamie & Daniel Bellenoit, Legacy Society Member

“Though my time as an employee at Gilead was short, the impact of the experience was very long-lasting.

My career, before Gilead, had been focused on working with youth and adolescents with mental health struggles. When I came to Gilead, and was exposed to the amazingly brave, tenacious adults who were receiving services, my eyes opened to an entire population of people who rely so heavily on the work of the folks at Gilead. My teammates were smart, kind and supportive, and they really showed me the meaning of teamwork. My husband and I became so aware of the need for the services that Gilead provides to continue well into the future, and becoming Legacy Society members is one small way we can help ensure that they do. We want to show our 3 young boys that every person matters, and help can be found if you look in the right places. Gilead is certainly one of those places. I continue to take what I learned at Gilead into my work and personal life, and both have been changed for the better because of my time there!

Laura Patey & Elizabeth Leigh Powers, Legacy Society Members

“As we were growing our family through adoption, we faced many challenges parenting two sons who had been in and out of care through the Department of Social Services for over 10 years. We quickly learned that it was vital to build a network of support, not only for our sons, but for our whole family. We were blessed to have had community organizations help us over the years. Now, with our sons grown and living lives full of purpose and love, we have each committed to finding ways to pay it forward.

Through my involvement with Gilead over the past few years, we have had an opportunity to see first-hand the critical role that Gilead plays in our community. The mental health services that Gilead provides help meet the challenges and needs of individuals on their journey. Our participation in the Legacy Society is an investment in an organization that reflects our values. It is important to us that Gilead continues to provide services that improve lives – as it has for the past 50 years!”

Patti Anne Vassia, Legacy Society Member

“I am proud to support the fine services provided by Gilead Community Services today; and into the future, with a planned gift to their endowment.

I have witnessed the commitment and expansion of services to our community’s most vulnerable residents over decades. They have continued to keep their clients’ needs and independence as a priority in a very challenging funding environment. Gilead was one of the first to join our Middlesex Leave a Legacy program and have kept that commitment by promoting their endowment’s growth to insure mental health services will continue to be available in the future. They are to be commended not only for their daily provision of services, but for their vision for their continuance. I encourage others to join me as a member of Gilead’s Legacy Society.”

Carolyn Kirsch, Legacy Society Member

“The path to self-actualism can sometimes feel elusive.

Gilead smooths that path for so many in our community, thus strengthening the ties that bind us in measurable positive ways.”