A legacy of giving

For Dr. Donald Mott, this succinct statement from Barrie, his wife of 49 years, established a clear action plan to support their chosen philosophy: “To whom much is given, much is required.” It is a philosophy and plan that has guided the couple through decades of generosity, not only of funds, but of time, talent and knowledge.

Even though no one in his family had ever attended college, Don Mott knew he wanted to be a doctor from the time he was in high school. In 1973, he arrived in Puyallup as an orthopedic surgeon and was soon immersed in Good Samaritan Hospital and the Children’s Therapy Unit (CTU). In particular, he focused on the needs of children with cerebral palsy.

In 1982, Barrie instigated a 3-week trip to China — an eye-opening journey that became a decades-long mission to share the knowledge and innovations of the CTU with doctors and therapists in China. In 2002, Dr. Mott was instrumental in founding the China Partners Network, a group of physicians and therapists who work to improve care for children in China with cerebral palsy and other neuromuscular disorders. In honor of this work, Dr. Mott received the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize in 2011.

The Motts’ commitment to the children of China has mirrored their dedication to their local community, especially Good Samaritan Hospital and the CTU. In fact, “The Ark,” a facility designed and built specifically to meet the needs of children and families served by the CTU, is named in their honor.

Dr. Mott also served as Medical Director of the CTU and Chief Medical Officer of Good Samaritan Hospital — in addition to serving as a member of the Good Samaritan Foundation Board of Directors and in leadership positions for several community organizations.

To ensure that their legacy will reflect their life-long philosophy of sharing, the Motts have included charitable gifts in their estate plans. They have designated a portion of their IRA for the permanent endowment for the Children’s Therapy Unit — helping to ensure that children with medical challenges will receive the therapies they need, regardless of insurance limitations or their families ability to pay.

Don and Barrie participated in the Thompson & Associates estate planning consultation service provided by the Foundations of MultiCare. Through this planning process, they were able to identify the best ways of giving to the charities they support, while minimizing their estate tax.

Regarding the Services of Thompson & Associates:

"Our session with Allan Fisher was very beneficial. We have an accountant, an attorney and a financial advisor — but there could have been a major tilt in what we intended in our estate plans."― Dr. Donald Mott

Make a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families by making an estate gift and becoming a Legacy Circle member. For more information or to enroll in the complimentary services of Thompson & Associates, contact our gift planning team, Gift Planning Manager, at plannedgiving@multicare.org or 253-403-1264.

Share the Mott’s vision and generosity. Include a bequest in your will to Good Samaritan Foundation, Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation, MultiCare Health Foundation or South King County Health Foundation.

Have us in your estate plans already? Let us know! We want a chance to thank you and include you as a member of our  Legacy Circle. Contact our gift planning team at 253-403-1264 or plannedgiving@multicare.org.

Learn more about the  Children’s Therapy Unit.

Tax ID Numbers
Good Samaritan Foundation EIN/Tax ID 91-2004312
Mary Bridge Children's Foundation EIN/Tax ID 94-3030039
MultiCare Health Foundation EIN/Tax ID 91-1514257
South King Health Foundation EIN/Tax ID 91-1514257