Nancy and Dave Napalo

At the core of almost every philanthropic decision Nancy and Dave Napalo make is the fundamental belief that no one should be left behind-that we would do better as a society if we ensure everyone can live with health and dignity.

That sense of moral responsibility and some friendly new neighbors led Nancy and Dave to Erie Family Health Centers (Erie).

In 2015, the couple moved into the Presbyterian Homes Lake Forest Place retirement community, where they met longtime Erie supporters, Dr. Bill Cape and the late Dick Hutson. At the time, Nancy was volunteering as a teen health educator at the junior high school level and Dave was enjoying retirement after a long career in banking.

Bill's medical background resonated with Nancy's passion for teen health, and Dick's dedication to Erie intrigued and motivated Dave. "As we learned more about Erie, we began to understand why Dick and Bill were such big fans," Dave shared.

Soon, Nancy and Dave found themselves attending Erie functions, touring the health center, meeting team members, and generously supporting Erie HealthReach Waukegan

Health Center , one of Erie's 13 health center sites that serves close to 10,000 Lake County residents.

"We believe that whatever resources are available to help people live healthy lives should be accessible to everyone," Nancy said. "We've seen how Erie makes healthcare access a reality for so many people in historically underserved communities."

For them, Dave said, "giving to Erie is an investment in the common good. When people are healthy, they are more productive, engaged, and invested in the community - it keeps our society healthy."

So, as soon as he qualified, Dave decided to take advantage of a simple way to make a gift through the IRA charitable rollover, which allows individuals 70½ or older to donate up to $105,000 annually from their IRAs directly to charities like Erie tax-free.

"We have been incredibly fortunate, and it's our obligation to share some of that good fortune," Dave said. "Investing in our community is a way of ensuring a good future for our grandchildren and for all chidren," Nancy added.