To Santa Rosa residents Irv and Coleen Rothenberg, giving to the community is a
lot like they believe good healthcare should be — a matter of mind, body and
spirit. They decided to support Sutter through the Planned Giving Program and other
venues a few years ago, after several friends with breast cancer received treatment
through Sutter Cancer Services.
“Sutter staff treated our friends like human beings, not numbers or hospital rooms,” Coleen says. “The environment is full of soul and caring. I was impressed with the encouragement and camaraderie, and all the helping hands extended to women going through the breast cancer program.”
“Sutter offers a different type of care and support,” Irv agrees. “When many people think about healthcare they only think about the medical treatment; Sutter provides alternative therapies like wellness programs, support groups and massage, for example.”
Irv and Coleen switched their own care to Sutter and were impressed with the services and environment. So when Sutter started talking about building the new Santa Rosa hospital, they signed up to help. Irv and Coleen contributed funds for construction and worked as volunteers on opening day. They also made Sutter a beneficiary of their personal estate, and Irv joined the Sutter Foundation Board to help educate the community about the Sutter Health system.
“The more we got involved, the more we learned and liked,” recalls Irv, who founded Buckingham Asset Management in Santa Rosa. His company offers wealth-management services and he advises his clientele to partner with and give to their communities through legacy giving plans or whenever they’re able.
Irv practices what he preaches not just in his personal life, but also through his business with a matching-funds program for his employees and by supporting a variety of charity events and causes throughout the year.
“We all benefit—mind, body and spirit—by helping others,” he says. “I always tell people there’s no shortage of treasure out there. Whether your treasure is time, knowledge or assets, it’s valuable. We also have a responsibility to teach our children and others the importance of giving and planting seeds for the future.”
“It’s been meaningful beyond words for me to work with and play games with critically ill children and help others who need support,” Coleen says. “Everyone has something to give.”