Health and Generosity: The Enduring Values of the Wheatley Family

Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley built their family on a strong foundation of philanthropy, kindness, and giving back to their community. Today, their children continue to honor their parents’ memory and live out their steadfast values by supporting Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford through a donor-advised fund (DAF).

During their lifetimes, Jack and Mary Lois were champions of pediatric care and research at Stanford. For over four decades, they gave generously to the Children’s Fund, which fuels the enduring priorities of Packard Children’s Hospital and pediatric and maternal health research at the Stanford School of Medicine. Their kindness bolstered programs and services providing mental health counseling, art and pet therapy, and, critically, world-class medical care for children in our community, regardless of families’ ability to pay.

After many years of generosity, Mary Lois and Jack passed away in 2013 and 2020, respectively. Even after their deaths, the couple continued to support children in need through planned giving. They directed a large portion of their estate to a donor-advised fund (DAF)—an investment account for assets that are set aside for charity. Thanks to their smart financial planning, the Wheatley family provides annual gifts to Packard Children’s through this DAF.

One of Jack and Mary Lois’ daughters, Elizabeth, acts as an adviser of the family’s DAF and works closely with the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health to make an annual gift to an area of greatest need or opportunity.

“Starting in their 60s, my parents hosted yearly family meetings where they discussed with my siblings and me our plans for giving,” Elizabeth remembers. “My parents felt that as a group we had been very blessed, and that if we would work together in philanthropy, that we could accomplish a lot.” 

“I’ve been deeply inspired to learn about the causes that my parents felt were important, and through the years, I have seen their wisdom in making it a priority to help people in need, and their wisdom in including my siblings and me in their giving efforts,” Elizabeth says. “The DAF has made it easy for us to be involved, and we have had fun getting together and working together!”

Under Elizabeth’s thoughtful and compassionate guidance, the Wheatleys’ children have continued their parents’ support of the Children’s Fund. They have also fueled research to discover the root causes of congenital heart disease, supported projects that bolstered resiliency and mental wellness in nurses, and invested in vision care for children—an area especially close to the family’s heart, as Elizabeth’s husband, Scott, has been a children’s eye doctor for the past 37 years.

“Both my parents and my husband have chosen to do a lot for young people, as it can make such a difference for the rest of their lives, and I share this sentiment, too,” Elizabeth says. “I love how Packard Children’s opens their door to families who struggle financially. I appreciate the great advances that have been made in medicine by Stanford doctors and researchers, as their work has helped so many children with serious and complex medical problems.”

The seeds of generosity planted by Jack and Mary Lois have blossomed into generations of thoughtful philanthropy by their children, grandchildren, and beyond.

To learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your charitable goals, reach out to the Gift Planning Team.