In the early 1960s, Dr. Rudolph Baldoni, then a newly minted physician, would send patients to the old county hospital in Orange for treatment. Even then, the hospital seemed tired and bedraggled to him.

A graduate of a medical school that later merged with UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, Baldoni became much more interested in the hospital after UC Irvine acquired it in the mid-1970s. To Baldoni, the old county hospital was nothing more than an eyesore that needed to be torn down. In its place, he envisioned a facility outfitted with the most sophisticated medical technology available and built with patient safety and comfort in mind.

Over the years, Baldoni’s feelings grew for UC Irvine, where he received medical care and attended lectures and conferences with his wife, Dorothy. About a decade ago, Baldoni participated in the reformation of the School of Medicine Alumni Association, which further deepened his connection to the university.

When he learned of plans for the new University Hospital, a project he had long dreamed of, he could barely contain his enthusiasm. A new hospital, he thought, would do much to enhance the university’s already strong reputation and make a real contribution by providing, in his words, “local residents with the best possible medical care possible right here in our own community.”

A successful anesthesiologist who later branched out into real estate and banking, Baldoni decided to contribute $100,000 to the hospital campaign. He also solicited support from other School of Medicine alumni. As a physician, Baldoni believed he had a moral obligation to help improve the quality of area healthcare and medical education and to give back to the place that had given him so much.

Ever the savvy businessman, Baldoni decided to take advantage of a new opportunity to increase his giving by another $200,000 to University Hospital.  Utilizing an IRA Rollover Gift, he was able to make a gift, avoid paying taxes on the annual required distribution amount from his retirement account, and free up additional resources for other charitable giving.

Baldoni said UC Irvine is finally going to have the hospital it has always deserved.

“I think the new University Hospital is going to be the crown jewel of Orange County,” he said.

For more information on IRA Rollover Gifts (including tax law changes for 2009) and other giving options, please call 949.824.6454, e-mail legacyplan@uci.edu, or visit www.giftlegacy.uci.edu