Planning for the Next Generation

After 22 years teaching psychology at Harford Community College and providing for her special needs daughter, Joan Kolobielski, admits to having a soft spot for helping others.

She has faced significant challenges in her life, but acquaintances would never imagine the life-altering struggles through which this humble mother of three has lived. An environmentalist who belongs to an agricultural coop, Mrs. K, as she likes to be called, has a penchant for looking at the bright side of life. “I love to garden and grow things organically. Your own home-grown tomatoes always taste better than the store-bought ones,” she says.

Her giving nature is apparent after just a few minutes with Mrs. K, who is modest about her many accomplishments. In addition to her tenured teaching position, she raised three children, is widowed twice and made sure that her daughter, Christine, received the extra care she required. She refuses to discuss her painful childhood which was marked by fleeing Poland after the Blitzkreig, in 1939. That she overcame so many seemingly insurmountable hurdles, makes it more touching when she gives visitors home-grown tomatoes before leaving her cozy home.

Recently, Mrs. K decided that she wanted to secure income for her son who would be Christine’s co-guardian in the future. Her estate plans in the works, she reasoned that a Charitable Gift Annuity benefiting Hospice of Baltimore was the solution to her family’s needs. Now, she is content knowing that after she receives a lifetime of income from this gift, her son will benefit for the rest of his life. Eventually, the proceeds of her generosity will be distributed to Hospice, which comforted her husband, Marjan Kolobielski, in his final days.

“Giving back to Dr. Myrt Gaines and Hospice is nice. Both have done so much for us!” concludes Mrs. K.

GBMC Foundation
6701 North Charles Street
Baltimore,MD 21204
443-849-3303 | Fax: 443-849-3739
E-Mail: JJeppi@GBMC.org