Healthcare is a Right, Not a Privilege

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Deb and Chris VandenBroek

Looking back, they feel grateful for the opportunities that shaped their journey, and that gratitude lies at the heart of their philanthropy.

Both were raised in families of modest means, each with one immigrant parent, and grounded in strong Midwestern values. They grew up watching their families contribute what they could, whenever they could. Today, Deb and Chris remain a bit astonished by the life they’ve built. They view their success as a blend of hard work and good fortune, an unexpected gift that carries with it a moral responsibility to help others.

When asked about his purpose in life, Chris answers without hesitation: “To help other people.”

Their connection to Packard Health began through Deb’s professional work in community health with Ed Pierce and Jerry Walden and deepened when Chris became a patient. Over time, their involvement has become both personal and principled. When they think of Packard, they think of accessibility, equity, and authentic service.

To them, Packard represents high-quality, relationship-based care that is available to everyone, not only those with financial means. As patients, they value never feeling rushed, having a real person answer the phone, and experiencing a pharmacy and patient portal that are responsive and easy to use. They have witnessed firsthand the compassion and respect that define the organization’s care.

As Deb often says, “Everybody deserves a Packard.”

They are equally inspired by Packard’s collaborative spirit and leadership. Partnerships with organizations such as Food Gatherers, Avalon Housing, the Delonis Center, and Dawn Farm demonstrate a commitment to wraparound services that address the full realities of patients’ lives. They admire Executive Director Ray Rion’s humility and tireless dedication to building partnerships, expanding services, and strengthening financial sustainability, all in service of patients.

Chris believes education and healthcare are the foundations of a healthy, thriving society. “There’s no better place to donate,” he says. Deb agrees, noting that while large healthcare systems often have significant resources, community-based care depends on local investment and trust. When asked what advice they have for Packard, they stressed the importance of maintaining Packard’s mission, and a strong board and management structure which keeps the organization financially viable.

For Deb and Chris, supporting Packard is about more than sustaining a medical practice. It is about strengthening an organization that upholds the fabric of a just and civil society. They believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and their generosity reflects that conviction. Packard is fortunate to have people like Deb and Chris, thoughtful, principled, and deeply committed, championing and sustaining this vital work in the community they proudly call home.