Honoring the Healing Mission of Dignity Health

(August 2018) — Tom and Julia Marreel’s leadership gift of $250,000 to the Dignity Rising campaign of the Dignity Health Foundation East Valley continues their legacy of giving. This generous pledge will help bring highly-specialized care to the community. Specifically, their gift will enhance the services of pediatrics, cardiovascular, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, maternal child health, neonatology, and level I trauma. They continue over 15 years of leading the way in the philanthropic community through their generosity and leadership to the Dignity Health mission. Their cumulative giving will top $1 million with this pledge. Donations they have secured leading other captial campaigns and fundraisers for our hospitals, bring the total amount raised by the family to approaching $3 million.

With his experience in the insurance arena over the past three decades and his experience as chair of the foundations previous campaign, Building for Tomorrow, Tom brings all of the experience and expertise needed to secure philanthropic investments from our community. He has served on both the foundation board and the community board for the medical centers, as well as the golf committee in the name of his friend George Rozsa. 

Julia is also very active in foundation initiatives, taking on a leadership role within the Women’s Philanthropic Society and joining the foundation board. Julia is also leading a strategic partnership with hospital executives and key physicians, which will focus on women’s health.

The couple continues a legacy of giving that began in the 1980s when Julia’s father, Dr. Colin Smart, was the Chief Medical Officer at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Dr. Smart is honored with the naming of the physician lounge. Julia grew up volunteering with her parents. Julia and her mother, Celia, donated thousands of hours of their time to hospital fundraising and community events. The Marreel sons have also grown up continuing the family legacy of volunteering and donating. One of Celia finest memories was the family helping hospital staff to plan the grand opening of the new Chandler Regional Medical Center in the 1980s. Her legacy will be honored in the new healing garden.

Julia and Tom were present at the opening of Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, which was built to be a physical place of beauty and healing, including magnificent artwork and gardens. The Marreel Family donated the funds to place a statue of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, in a water feature at the front of the circular drive of the hospital. The statue, created by Michael Meyers of Prescott, Ariz. is to honor the healing ministry that takes place at both Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and Chandler Regional Medical Center and in our community. This is a fitting tribute from a family who has dedicated their philanthropic efforts to Dignity Health’s mission.

 

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