Enhancing Lives by Protecting the Environment

Jim Lussier believes that health care and the environment are linked, both in terms of how the environment drives health outcomes and also in how we need to approach both.

“Health care, like the environment, helps people live lives that are beneficial for them.” As the former CEO of the St. Charles Health Care System in central Oregon, he believes that preventative care and creating good habits before you develop negative health outcomes are key to good health and to a healthy environment. “If you lose your health, you’ve lost everything.” He says it is similar to the environment; “that’s part of our health. If our environment disappears, there is not a lot in health care that can make it better. Someone else has to step up.”

Jim served on the board of directors of Oregon Environmental Council for six years. He joined the board because of the organization’s approach to how people could improve their lives by doing things differently and in more environmentally friendly ways. “OEC is coming from a value perspective, not a shaming perspective. ‘If you do these sorts of things, you will live a better life, your family will be healthier.’”

Jim recalled being very impacted when he was talking to farmers and ranchers in central and northern Oregon. At that time, those farmers and ranchers didn’t see that being environmentally friendly was an important part of their job.

Jim said that OEC was able to demonstrate that preserving the land as you grow food for other people is beneficial and also economical. He said, “OEC doesn't go to farmers and say, ‘Look what you are doing to this land!’ because the farmers are just trying to make their lives better. OEC really illustrates the benefits to the farmers of more environmentally friendly practices, not only for the environment but also for their health and finances.” Jim reminisced that some ranchers and farmers also saw unintended benefits, like fish coming back to their streams and lakes.

When asked why he donates to OEC, Jim said, “My association with OEC makes my life better as well. I just feel like I am doing the right things for the environment. OEC is organized and doing great work in Oregon. I feel good about that and don’t have to do it all by myself because I am just one person.” He described OEC’s work as “health care for the environment.”

Jim and his late wife chose to leave a planned gift to OEC because they felt that they needed to make sure their money was going to a great purpose that they already felt good about. “To me, that’s what planned giving is all about.”