A long-term commitment grows from a community connection
When Billy and Cheryl Crawford moved to the Rogue Valley from Texas, they looked for ways to connect with their new community. What started as a search for volunteer opportunities blossomed into a deep partnership with the Ashland Community Health Foundation — one that will continue long into the future because of a gift the couple made through their will to ACHF.
“What sets ACHF apart and why we chose to include ACHF in our estate plan, is their commitment to understanding the community’s true needs,” Billy explains. “I can’t always know where the greatest needs are,” he shares. “But they’re researching and learning about the real challenges of populations in the valley.”
“Naming an organization in an estate plan isn’t trivial,” Billy also reflects. “I have to believe in the mission and the organization. Some might have a great mission, but struggle with a long-term vision or board stagnation. This isn’t the case with ACHF, which has served the community for almost five decades.”
Billy has volunteered at ACHF since 2019. As a retired hospital administrator from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, his background in health care administration and database management made him a natural fit for the foundation’s needs, and his experience proved invaluable as he dove into scholarship evaluations, proofreading, and countless other behind-the-scenes tasks.
Billy also serves on the development committee for Southern Oregon Land Conservancy. His deep connection with both organizations’ missions led him and Cheryl to dedicate bequests in their will.
Billy encourages others to consider estate giving as “a way to think bigger than yourself.” The process, he emphasizes, is surprisingly simple: “You go online, there’s a form to use. You can let ACHF know about the gift or not, but sharing it with the foundation lets them better plan for the future.”
When Billy looks ahead in the next five years, his vision for the future is “that our community is in a better place all-around. People will say that the nurses were so great, and they found out they were able to go to school because of an ACHF scholarship. Or people getting mental health support will learn that their counselor completed their program with foundation assistance.”
Through their bequest, Billy and Cheryl Crawford are ensuring that ACHF can continue vital work for generations to come—a fitting legacy for a couple who found their home in the Rogue Valley. We’re grateful for their incredible generosity and dedication to our community’s long-term health.
When donors like Billy and Cheryl Crawford include ACHF in their estate plans, they are doing more than making a donation, they are planting seeds for a healthier future in a community they care about. If you would like to learn more about gift planning, please call Stephanie Roland at 541-482-0367 x2.
