A Trustworthy Experience

Susan Mateofsky, 76, sits on the deck of her condo in Chico after placing Enloe in her trust.

Alexander “Joe” Mateofsky and his wife, Susan Mateofsky, moved to Chico from the town of Paradise in January 2015. Two weeks later, Joe Mateofsky had a heart attack in their new home.

Susan Mateofsky called 911, and paramedics rushed him to Enloe Health’s Emergency Department. Caregivers quickly performed surgery and saved his life, allowing the couple to spend several more precious years together before Joe Mateofsky passed away in 2022.

Inspired by the excellent care her husband received, Susan Mateofsky later made an impactful decision. She placed Enloe Health in her trust as a beneficiary, a gift that will help Enloe provide person-centered care to others for years to come.

Lasting Impressions

The Mateofskys’ experience at Enloe was a major reason Susan Mateofsky placed the health system in her trust. Enloe caregivers demonstrated a commitment to helping Joe Mateofsky make lifestyle changes after his heart attack.

It started when they were still in the Emergency Department, Susan Mateofsky recalled, when a caring physician counseled her husband on how to move forward after his heart attack.

“Joe, do you smoke?” the doctor asked.

“No, I quit,” he said.

“How long ago did you quit?” the doctor said.

“Just now!” he answered.

When Joe Mateofsky was well enough to leave the hospital, he attended appointments at Enloe Health Cardiac Rehabilitation, where caregivers taught him exercises and what to eat to strengthen his heart.

These experiences made a lasting impression on Susan Mateofsky. “He loved it out there. He loved the staff,” she recalled. “He had a really good experience.”

A Generous Decision

When Susan Mateofsky received a Stethoscope newsletter full of stories about other patients who had recovered at Enloe, she saw an opportunity to make a generous decision. She checked “Contact Me” and added the health system to her trust as a beneficiary.

“I added Enloe to my trust because I appreciate the care that was given to my husband over the years,” Susan Mateofsky said. “It feels good to know that my assets will benefit the organization that helped Joe.”

She also felt that Enloe was “deserving of contributions,” she said, because the health system is a nonprofit that benefits the community.

Planning Your Legacy

“The purpose of having a trust is so you can direct your assets to go where you want them to, and so the people who receive the funds don’t have to pay taxes on that money,” Susan Mateofsky explained.

That’s why the Enloe Health Foundation is partnering with FreeWill. This free, online tool guides you through the process of creating your will or trust, so you can feel confident that your assets will go to those you love or the causes you care about.

“We are excited to have this tool accessible,” said Elizabeth Cadd, Advancement Operations Manager at the Enloe Health Foundation. “It takes 20 minutes, and you can update your documents at any time if your plans change.”

Susan Mateofsky’s contribution not only honors her husband’s memory but also will make a difference in the lives of other patients and their loved ones.

“We are deeply honored and grateful for Susan’s decision to include the Enloe Health Foundation in her trust,” said Jolene Francis, Enloe Health’s Vice President of Philanthropy & Communications. “Her forward-thinking generosity will help Enloe Health continue providing leading-edge medical care to the North State, elevating the health of our communities.”