Donna Stillo finds fulfillment through connection to the community

“My life has been a fortuitous mix of entrepreneurial endeavors, and the one thread that’s run through it is volunteering,” Donna Stillo shares. “I think my life would have been so different had I not volunteered. I doubt it would have been filled with as much purpose or fun if I hadn’t been graced with the opportunity to extend my time and heart to others. It’s been a gift to me.”

Throughout her successful career as a marketing executive and business owner, along with her many philanthropic endeavors, Donna has drawn inspiration from her strong connection to her community. That commitment was evident as early as her teenage years, when she volunteered her time with a wide variety of organizations across the San Fernando Valley, especially for causes that supported children and seniors.

Donna’s relationship with Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center also took root early. With medical center clinicians by her side, she confronted and beat cancer in her mid-20s. “I’ll always have a really soft spot for the hospital. They saved my life,” she remembers.

Giving to the future
That life-changing experience and her father’s passing motivated Donna to begin volunteering her time at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, supporting patient care and experience. Later, she served on both the Tenant Healthcare Corp board, and continues to serve on the Providence Tarzana Foundation board.

Donna recently made a generous planned gift to Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, directing her gift to patient experience, the area that inspired her generosity to the medical center in the first place.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate in my life,” Donna explains. “For me, it’s always been clear that the things that are important to me should continue to flourish and build even when I’m gone. So I realized it’s important for me to make arrangements for those kinds of gifts for the future.”

For Donna, planned giving solidifies her wishes for the future and reinforces her relationship with her beloved neighborhood. “My biggest sense of fulfillment comes from my ability to connect with the community.”