Mary Ellen Garrett picked up my call, and instantly I remembered one of the reasons I love talking to Mary Ellen—her voice. It invites you in. You feel like a lifelong friend even if you’ve just met her. I have seen Mary Ellen in action; in the boardroom, ballroom, and one-on-one. Her voice never waivers. It’s always full of warmth and compassion. Her compassion radiates, as she begins to tell me how she came to Mercy Care.

While still a parent and board member at Marist School, Mary Ellen was introduced to Mercy Care by another Marist family. She was attracted to the organization because of its Catholic founding, but her passion deepened over the past fifteen years. Impressed by not only how warmly she was welcomed but also seeing patients receive the same warm welcome from Mercy Care’s doctors, nurses and staff at all levels.

“Typically, people get involved with an organization because they have been personally touched. But in this case I felt so attached to the mission and the people, it allowed me to make it my passion.”

Mary Ellen’s first gift was made due to obligation as a board member. But as time went on, she and her husband, Scott, wanted to do more for the organization they cared about. It wasn’t about making a large gift all at once but managing to give consistently over time.

“It wasn’t about getting our name on a brick or building. It was about developing a relationship with the organization over time and seeing how our money was being well spent.”

It was this belief in the organization that made The Garretts’ include Mercy Care into their estate plans. A financial planner by trade, Mary Ellen, recognizes the importance of estate planning but emphasizes that the connection to the organization comes first. “If someone is already interested in planned giving, I would insist that they go for a tour. And even after they’ve made their gift, I would insist that they continue to go on tours and stay current.”

“You see what kind of welcoming atmosphere it is—from the staff side to the medical side, to the trustee side. There are so many parts to Mercy Care. The only way to know all of them is to see for yourself.”

Having seen all the moving parts of Mercy Care, I asked Mary Ellen about her favorite Mercy Care program. She was hesitant to pick just one. But eventually, she answered, “The mobile units.” She talked about what a gift it is for those who go out and find the most desperate people in need in hopes of helping them heal.

As we ended our conversation, Mary Ellen spoke with such passion about how she wishes she could wave a magic wand and tell all experiencing homelessness in Atlanta about Mercy Care. “It’s a welcoming place to get well,” she adds. I can hear the smile in her voice as she reflected, thrilled it has all worked out. Mary Ellen Garrett is truly a gift that keeps on giving.