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Doris and Dale Urbain - Devoted to Helping Children
For Doris and Dale Urbain, retirement is not about taking it easy.
The former school teachers spend much of their time on the run, often literally, to help children and families in their community of Burnsville, Minn. as well as such places as Memphis, Tenn., Nicaragua and Jamaica.
When they are not busy helping those less fortunate, you often find the Urbains on the jogging track helping raise money for them. They have logged numerous marathons and half-marathons, 5-K and 10-K races for charity.
"We help out whenever we can," says Doris, just days before she and Dale left for a month-long trip to a remote village in Nicaragua, where they helped repair local schools. Two weeks after they returned from Nicaragua, they left for Jamaica to volunteer in a children's home in the mountains.
Back at home in Minnesota, they volunteer at local charities often. And about three times a year, they travel to Memphis so they can volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, a housing facility for St. Jude patients and their families receiving treatment lasting between one week and three months.
Their interest in St. Jude and Ronald McDonald House began about five years ago, when the grandson of one of Dale's life-long friends was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The Urbains came to Memphis to visit the family, who was staying at the Ronald McDonald House, and they have supported St. Jude ever since.
"Before I went, I didn't know if I could deal with seeing the hospital," recalls Doris. "I was so pleasantly surprised. It was such a cheerful, happy place. We were particularly impressed with the nurses and how much they did for the children. I've never been in a place that felt like that. Until you've experienced it, you can't appreciate it."
Their friend's grandson recovered and today, at age 10, is active and healthy. "Seeing him run and play now is just wonderful," she says. "It's a miracle, really."
Although the couple never had children of their own, they have touched countless young lives in their 40 years of teaching and their continued volunteer work. When Doris received an inheritance from her late father recently, it was typical of the couple to want to use it to help others. They discussed the options and decided to establish a charitable gift annuity with St. Jude, because it would help save children with cancer and catastrophic diseases in this country and around the world.
"We knew my parents would be happy about it going to help the children," says Doris. She adds that they appreciate the tax deduction they received in making the gift, as well as the regular payments she and Dale will receive for the rest of their lives. As a result, they decided to take out a second St. Jude gift annuity a short time later.
"We really feel St. Jude is fantastic," says Doris. "And because we have been to St. Jude and seen what they do, we know the money will be well spent."
Learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities
