Planning Your Gift to Packard
New Law Allows Lifetime Gifts from Retirement Accounts

WINTER 2007 -- John Working has turned his lifelong connection to Stanford into lasting support of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. After many years of annual giving, Working recently made a special planned gift to Packard Children’s directly from his Individual Retirement Account (IRA), as allowed under new legislation for a limited time (see sidebar). 

John Working and his wife, Lysbeth (left), join Victoria Applegate, director of auxiliaries relations, at the 2006 Lucile Salter Packard Society Holiday Tea

The son of a Stanford University economics professor, Working grew up on campus and stayed on as a student. He volunteered at the Stanford Home for Convalescent Children, the earliest predecessor of Packard Hospital, and served on the board of the former Children’s Hospital at Stanford with Mrs. Lucile Packard. He still lives nearby today. 

Working’s IRA gift supports the research of Harvey Cohen, MD, PhD, the Deborah E. Addicott-John A. Kriewall and Elizabeth A. Haehl Family Professor in Pediatrics and former chief of staff of Packard Children’s. Cohen’s lab is using comparative proteomics--the statistical analysis of proteins and peptides--to better diagnose, understand, and treat childhood diseases.

“Imagine being able to predict whether a child will develop diseases such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer, to anticipate how they will respond to treatment, and to intervene in the most effective way,” says Cohen. “Proteomics offers us the potential to do this, and we are grateful for John’s help in moving our work forward.” 

“I think of the enduring contributions Harvey is making to improve the lives of children,” says Working. “With my father’s research in statistics and my love of Packard Children’s, I feel I’ve come full circle by supporting Harvey’s work.” 

In addition to this gift, Working has included Packard Children’s in his estate plans and is a member of the Lucile Salter Packard Society.