One Hour That Changed Two Lives

Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter

Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter

Larry Stelter and Peggy Fisher's support of ChildServe began more than 20 years ago with a tour of the facility.

Like many individuals who tour ChildServe for the first time, Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter were forever changed after coming through ChildServe’s doors more than 20 years ago. Their reaction was strong and immediate.

"We were floored at the comprehensive nature of services provided and how wonderful the care is," Peggy says. "I had no idea what to expect. My memory was of newspaper clippings from the 1950s showing kids with polio in iron lungs. I went back to the car in tears and told Larry that if we're ever going to make charitable contributions going forward, this is the place."

Since that impactful day, few donors have made such a lasting impact at ChildServe as Peggy and Larry. They have made giving to ChildServe a priority, and their investments have helped fuel unparalleled growth in the organization's programs, services, facilities and the number of children with special healthcare needs receiving care.

The couple has provided leadership gifts to the past three ChildServe campaigns, including the Great Life, I Am One and current Forward Together initiatives. Respectively, these efforts provided resources to remodel the CHC wing and create the Transitional Care Unit, double outpatient therapy space and add eight specialty clinics and expand ChildServe's long-term care for young adults with medical complexity and provide behavioral health services to children who may not be served by other providers due to a dual diagnosis of developmental disabilities.

Peggy and Larry have also served as the presenting sponsor of ChildServe's highly successful Bubble Ball for the past seven years and have contributed more than $122,000 in sponsorships. The Bubble Ball has now emerged as one of Des Moines' premier special event fundraisers and has collectively generated $1.85 million to benefit children with special healthcare needs.

Peggy and Larry now use appreciated securities as their primary gift vehicle, as gifting appreciated stock is one of the most effective means of tax savings available. "Our financial advisor notes that capital gains taxes are avoided on the stock and we are eligible to receive an income tax charitable deduction for the full fair-market value of the stock at the time of the gift," Peggy says. ChildServe also has the capacity to receive gifts of stock electronically, which simplifies the transaction.

Larry is President and Peggy is the Chief Executive Officer of The Stelter Company, a three-generation family business that provides direct mail, digital marketing, data analysis and planned giving services to 1,250 nonprofit organizations across the country, including ChildServe. The company was founded in 1962.

In 2001, Stelter employees began making donations to ChildServe as a holiday gift in Larry's honor. More than $160,000 has been gifted through this program over the years.

In 2004, Larry and Peggy were introduced to Jim, then a nine-year-old receiving rehabilitation therapy at ChildServe following a blood vessel rupture in his brain, known as an arteriovenous malformation. Stelter invited Jim and his parents, John and Barb, to attend their company holiday luncheon to tell the story of how Jim has benefited from ChildServe, an event which continued until Jim graduated from high school. In 2013, Stelter hired Jim to work on a part-time basis. Jim, now 25, still works at The Stelter Company and also works at ChildServe.

"Jim has been a huge part of our lives, and a huge part of our employees' lives," says Peggy. "I can't say enough about what this experience has taught us and what it means to impact a life," Peggy continues. "This is a wonderful testament to what ChildServe does."

Although Peggy and Larry have never had to make use personally of the services ChildServe provides, they have witnessed many friends and employees who have, all with wonderful results.

Larry shares, "Peggy and I have been blessed with five healthy grandchildren. We give to ChildServe to make certain that ChildServe's services continue to be the best in the country should we or others ever need them."

Help Fuel the Future of ChildServe

You, like Peggy and Larry, can ensure ChildServe is able to meet the needs of children today and tomorrow. Contact Colleen Rogers Messenger CAP® at colleen@childserve.org or 515-251-5572 to learn more.