Mary Schoolman’s family has a legacy of giving dating back at least 50 years. “It’s in our family’s DNA,” Mary says. “We have a deep-seated fire to make the world a better place by giving both financially and through volunteer work. My dad always taught us to look beyond ourselves.”
Mary’s path to giving through The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital started after she and her husband, Steve, launched Educational Multimedia Company in 1999. The non-profit develops multimedia health promotion and disease prevention programs for underserved children and adolescents.
The health missions of the Foundation and the Schoolman’s company complement each other. “We want to help Barnes-Jewish Hospital continue the remarkable journey of finding the best treatments for all of us,” Mary says. “When you come through the hospital doors with a health issue, the whole field is leveled no matter who you are. By giving through the Foundation, I know we’re making a difference. It gives my family and I peace of mind to live in a community with outstanding health care.”
She continues: “There is no power for change greater than a person discovering what he or she cares about and finding ways to make a difference. It’s a heady feeling that you have that power within you by giving.”