Celebrating 35 Years of Impact
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For 35 years, The Mayo Legacy has powered one of healthcare's most ambitious visions — ensuring that breakthrough treatments, compassionate care and life-saving research continue for generations to come.
As a member of Mayo Clinic's gift planning team, Jess Nelson LeMay connects more than 5,000 generous benefactors with the institution's transformative mission through this recognition program for planned gifts. These future commitments sustain Mayo Clinic's legacy of exceptional patient care, groundbreaking medical research and service to humanity.
After eight years of helping benefactors translate their gratitude into lasting impact, Jess finds her work deeply rewarding. Each conversation reveals not just what inspires their giving, but how Mayo Clinic has fundamentally changed their lives.
As The Mayo Legacy reaches this milestone anniversary, Jess sat down with Mayo Clinic Magazine to explore how planned giving continues to shape the future of healthcare — one meaningful connection at a time.
Tell us about the history of The Mayo Legacy.
The Mayo Legacy honors individuals who support Mayo Clinic's future through planned giving and other future-focused gifts.
At the heart of Mayo Clinic’s history lies the vision of Drs. William J. and Charles H. Mayo. Established in 1990, The Mayo Legacy unites those deeply committed to Mayo Clinic's mission — one inspired by the Mayo brothers' extraordinary act of donating their life savings to establish Mayo Clinic as a nonprofit.
The Mayo Legacy began with a simple but powerful idea: to bring together individuals who wish to support Mayo Clinic’s work in perpetuity.
Future-focused gifts empower Mayo Clinic to pursue groundbreaking research, develop new technologies, and provide compassionate patient care worldwide.
— Jess Nelson LeMay
Mayo Clinic provides the best care to every patient, advances healthcare through research and education, and serves humanity. Every member of The Mayo Legacy plays a role in advancing this mission by supporting the cutting-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care that define Mayo Clinic.
How does supporting Mayo Clinic through planned giving ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from groundbreaking medical advancements and compassionate care?
For Mayo Clinic, estate gifts contribute to the long-term sustainability of the institution, providing resources to drive medical innovation, enhance patient care, and support education and research. Through The Mayo Legacy, benefactors weave their own stories into the fabric of Mayo Clinic’s future, knowing their commitment will help shape healthcare for generations to come.
The Mayo Legacy is celebrating 35 years this year. How have you seen the program grow?
The Mayo Legacy has experienced remarkable growth in 35 years, expanding from a small group of founders to a thriving community of over 10,500 members. Today, more than 5,000 living members demonstrate the power of collective impact. This growth reflects a shared commitment to Mayo Clinic's mission and fosters a strong sense of connection among members.
The Mayo Legacy community has witnessed the construction of significant buildings such as the John H. and Jennie D. Birdsall Medical Research Building in Florida for neuroscience research, Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona, and the Gonda Building in Rochester, among many others. Members have celebrated breakthroughs like the 1,000th liver transplant and milestones such as the 150th anniversary of Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Legacy has seen the implementation of innovations like the electronic health record at all sites, demonstrating Mayo Clinic’s commitment to advancing healthcare.
Continued giving is crucial to securing Mayo Clinic's future leadership in healthcare. Future-focused gifts empower Mayo Clinic to pursue groundbreaking research, develop new technologies, and provide compassionate patient care worldwide. Benefactor support ensures Mayo Clinic can continue to Cure, Connect and Transform healthcare for years to come.
There are currently more than 5,000 members who have made a commitment to Mayo Clinic and are part of The Mayo Legacy. What would you like to say to those benefactors?
As The Mayo Legacy celebrates its 35th anniversary, we express heartfelt appreciation to every member — past, present and future. Each member’s decision to include Mayo Clinic in their estate plans is a profound expression of trust and hope in Mayo Clinic. The leadership, innovation and compassion that define Mayo Clinic would not be possible without the generosity and vision of The Mayo Legacy’s benefactors.
To those who have made this commitment — thank you. Your foresight and generosity are transforming lives and healing communities. You are the reason Mayo Clinic can continue to strive for excellence, set new standards in medicine, and fulfill its humanitarian mission.
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