Dorothy Miller

Helping Oncology Patients & Families

During her lifetime Dorothy Miller made a difference. She was an artist, one of the founders of the Art Director's Association of Iowa, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and a wife, mother, and grandmother to a wonderful family.

While these were all meaningful parts of her life, it was also important to continue making a difference beyond her lifetime by supporting the community through charitable organizations. At the time of her death, she left a majority of her estate to three charities, including John Stoddard Cancer Center, by naming them as a beneficiary of her Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

To make her gifts through her IRAs was a tax-wise decision for Dorothy. During her lifetime she had access to her resources, should she have needed them, and it cost her nothing to set up. There would have been unavoidable taxes on these assets had she given them to her heirs.

Dorothy provided direction her gift be used to establish an endowment to support the What's On Your Mind? program. This program provides free, confidential counseling from licensed psychological professionals to patients and families battling cancer - something that would not be possible without philanthropy.

Without a doubt, Dorothy made the world a better place during her lifetime. Through her estate gift to establish an endowment, her legacy of making a difference will continue for generations to come.