Dr. Bill and Leslie Gitlin

Dr. Bill Gitlin remembers when he received a phone call from Dr. Harvey Weingarten, a friend from IU’s dental school. Weingarten asked if Gitlin would be interested in practicing together in South Bend. Bill Gitlin had never really thought about South Bend before that.

It’s been his home ever since.

Gitlin became fond of the city, and “incredibly grateful” for everything the community gave him. He and Weingarten moved their original office to a second, larger office, and later into a new building on Douglas Road: Family Dental Health.

In 2019, as Gitlin and Weingarten began transitioning from full-time practice toward retirement, they knew it was time to sell their interest in the practice. That meant an influx of cash, and Gitlin knew just what to do. He called the Community Foundation as the process was unfolding.

“We never considered doing anything else,” Gitlin said. “I knew we wanted to be generous, and I knew the reputation of the Community Foundation. It was an obvious choice.”

Gitlin and his wife Leslie used part of the proceeds from the sale to build the Gitlin Family (donor advised) Fund.

Drs. Gitlin and Weingarten then established a designated fund to support Dr. Angie’s Dental Health Exchange in honor of a few longtime employees at Family Dental Health. Dr. Angie’s helps connect underserved populations with volunteer dental professionals, ensuring that the dentists’ legacy doesn’t end with their retirement.

Most recently, the Gitlins set up a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Foundation by making a one-time, tax-free transfer from their IRA funds. The CGA will provide the Gitlins with a bit of income each year, but it will also expand their generosity, and that’s what’s most important.

“The Community Foundation isn’t just charity,” says Gitlin. “It’s legacy.”