Giving Back to Health Needs

The motivation behind charitable giving varies from person to person. Sometimes it’s as modest as empathy for a cause. Sometimes that becomes so impactful that it can change a community. 

“People care about the communities where they live, work and play,” said Katie Tate, foundation director at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, the fundraising arm of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.  

Founded in 1980 by local physician Daniel Gottovi and a group of dedicated volunteers, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare was established with a vision that everyone deserves access to high-quality hospice and palliative care regardless of ability to pay. 

“Many of our donors want to ensure that the same, compassionate care that their loved ones received at the end of life are available for their families, friends and neighbors,” Tate said. “Many choose to give in honor or memory of their loved ones after their death. We have recently seen a lot of funders supporting efforts to increase and enhance our local health care workforce. I hear incredible stories about my teammates and the patients and families they care for every day. It inspires me, and I believe it inspires philanthropy within our community.” 

Lower Cape Fear LifeCare is not alone in receiving financial support for the health care workforce. 

Since 2000, Dan Saklad and wife, Sheila – who died in 2020 – have contributed to health care education at Cape Fear Community College, at first through scholarships.  

In January 2024, the college announced that the Saklads made a transformative $3 million contribution for the renovations to the building at 319 N. Front St. The facility, recently dedicated as the Dan and Sheila Saklad Health and Human Services Center, includes four new simulation hospital rooms, six additional interdisciplinary simulation spaces and three new nursing labs outfitted with the latest technology and equipment.  

“These advanced simulation areas allow students to engage in realistic clinical scenarios, better preparing them for real-world health care environments,” said Mary Ellen Naylor, CFCC’s health and human services dean. “The interdisciplinary spaces have been particularly impactful in promoting teamwork across different health care fields, a critical skill in today’s collaborative patient care settings. Hands-on learning opportunities are allowing nursing students to develop and refine clinical skills in a controlled, supportive environment.” 

Donors often choose health care for their gifts because of the direct impact on individuals and communities, said David Howell, executive director of Cape Fear Community College’s Foundation, which supports student education opportunities through programs, scholarships, faculty grants and capital projects. 

“Health care touches every person at some point in their lives. Investing in the education of future health care professionals is a meaningful way to improve the quality of life in our community, address critical workforce shortages and leave a lasting legacy,” he said. “Donors see their contributions as a way to support students and ensure that high-quality care is available for future generations. Gifts supporting community health care are powerful, tangible ways to make a difference for years.” 

According to Howell, donors are essential to CFCC’s health care initiatives, providing resources that public funding alone cannot. 

“Gifts like the Saklads’ make it possible to create advanced learning spaces, fund cutting-edge technology and expand critical health care programs,” he said. “Their support directly enhances student training and helps prepare a skilled workforce ready to meet growing health care demands. Ultimately, donors invest not only in education but in improving the health and well-being of our entire community.” 

Saklad said his decision to donate to CFCC for health care education was easy.  

“I got to know the college in the early 2000s,” he said. “I saw what the college was doing for young men and women and the people they serve. My exposure to the students and the faculty showed me that they are doing the right thing by these young men and women.” 

While Saklad has contributed to other causes within the community, he said that donating to CFCC was a wise choice. “In my heart, the U.S. deserves more professional nursing. It’s not rocket science. Nurses and teachers make a community better,” he said. “This opportunity came out of nowhere. I’m just a regular person who was presented with an opportunity. I know that Shelia and I did something to impact people’s lives, and everyone is better for it.” 

Similarly, the University of North Carolina Wilmington received a $25 million gift commitment from Yousry Sayed and his wife, Linda, for the advancement of UNCW’s programs in medical education, clinical care, research and health care accessibility. Five million dollars is designated to programs to recruit prospective teachers. A portion of this funding will support scholarships for individuals transitioning to a teaching career. The Sayeds’ gift marks the largest philanthropic commitment in the university’s history. 

The Sayeds said the need for health care education at a time of workforce shortages and other enormous challenges prompted them to take action. 

“Our journey began here at UNCW, and over the years, this wonderful place provided a foundation for us to raise our family, to join a community and build careers that have inspired us to learn, grow and lead. It is our hope that the programs and opportunities created and supported by this gift will benefit generations to come,” Linda Sayed said. 

Yousry Sayed, a member of the school’s board of trustees and former UNCW faculty member, said, “If you talk to friends, if you talk to family members, they talk about education and the importance of it, and how we could do better, right? What’s the next thing? The health care system. So, it was an easy decision for both of us." 

In May 2024, Brunswick Community College announced that its new state-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratory was named in honor of Pamela Jones, daughter of BCC donor Maureen Wright. Jones was a graduate of Emory Law School and chief legal officer and vice president of human resources at Lee Hecht Harrison. Jones was described as “kind and thoughtful, a beautiful person with an energetic mind and a wide, caring heart,” in the BCC announcement. 

In that same spirit, Saklad said, “When I see the results from what I have given, that makes me happy. The notes I receive from students are written from the heart. The students are achieving. They are happy and grateful. They will add value to this world. Very simply, my life has been good, and so I give back. And that gives me heart.”