Story, Donor

Planned Gift Supports Pediatric Neurology Care, Research and Education

August 12, 2025

Loraine Kielsmeier and her family’s heartfelt generosity are leaving a profound and lasting legacy at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

In 2024, following Loraine’s passing, a gift from her estate was directed to our Pediatric Neurology Program.  

Neuro exam at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Loraine’s brother was saved by a children’s hospital in California after suffering a life-threatening brain aneurysm.  Though he later faced challenges with a seizure disorder, the family remained deeply grateful for the care he received. When they moved to Colorado in 1995, they were determined to give back to their new local children’s hospital — Children’s Hospital Colorado.  

As part of Loraine’s estate gift, her townhome was deeded to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation upon her passing, and the Foundation was listed as a beneficiary of her Special Needs Trust. The proceeds from the sale of the townhome are already making a lasting difference in several key areas within our Neurology Program: 

Key Areas of Support

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World-Class Expertise

Funding to support a neuroimmunology fellowship program that harnesses our faculty’s unique expertise to build a pipeline of future experts in this specialized field.
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Research

Support for physicians to provide clinical care to patients with rare neurologic conditions and also for researchers to develop new and novel treatments/interventions for patients with these conditions – with the ultimate goal of developing a cure for these disorders.
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Training the Next Generation

Support for mentoring medical students interested in pursuing careers in pediatric neurology as well as coaching for current pediatric neurology residents. The gift also helped to support global health care initiatives – specifically disseminating pediatric-neurology best-practices to practitioners in Uganda.

By directing resources to an area of pediatric care that mattered most to their family, Loraine’s gift is helping advance our expertise in neurology and will directly benefit children and families at Children’s Colorado for years to come.  

A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a legal arrangement that allows individuals with disabilities to receive income while preserving their eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid and Social Security. SNTs provide a way for families to ensure their loved ones with disabilities are cared for without jeopardizing critical benefits. 

Deeding property directly to the Foundation can offer several advantages over naming it as a charitable gift in a will. Deeding allows for immediate impact, bypasses the probate process and may provide tax benefits, such as avoiding capital gains tax. This straightforward approach ensures the full value of the gift goes directly to the hospital, avoiding potential legal complications. It also offers flexibility in how the property is used, allowing the donor to leave a meaningful legacy while benefiting from an immediate, tangible contribution to pediatric care. 

Information provided is general and educational in nature and should not be construed as legal, accounting, or tax advice. Every taxpayer’s situation is different. Rules and regulations regarding tax deductions for charitable giving vary, and laws of a specific state or laws relevant to a particular situation may affect the applicability, accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Please consult an attorney or tax advisor regarding your specific legal or tax situation prior to taking any action based on this information.