Thought Leadership / News
December 18, 2009 
 Press Releases
Lofgren Receives Philanthropic Leadership Award From Baylor Health Care System Foundation

The Baylor Health Care System Foundation this month honored Norman Lofgren, a Member at Gray Reed & McGraw, with its Philanthropic Leadership Award for his role in helping complete one of the largest series of non-corporate gifts ever to benefit the Baylor Health Care System.

Mr. Lofgren, the long-time attorney of Martha Foster-Skiles and her husband Blair Skiles, assisted them in devising a charitable gift plan to benefit the Baylor Health Care System as an integral part of their estate planning.  A key element of this plan was triggered earlier this year after the passing of Ms. Foster-Skiles.

On December 1st, Baylor announced that the Martha Foster-Skiles Estate and Mr. Skiles had contributed $3 million to create the Martha Foster-Skiles Healing Garden - or "Lovie's Garden" - which will be built in front of the new Baylor Charles A. Sammons Outpatient Cancer Center.  Research shows that healing gardens are an important feature in health care settings, as they provide an elusive moment of peace to patients in trying times.

Mr. Skiles noted:  "I called Martha 'Lovie,' because she was the love of my life.  We're creating something special to honor a beautiful woman and give patients and their families a place to rest and renew themselves when they come to Baylor for treatments and appointments.

Ms. Foster-Skiles was a nationally known clothing designer and manufacturer and founder of the Martha Foster Group. In addition, she became a recognized name in philanthropy in 2004, when she made a $1 million pledge that established the Baylor Martha Foster Lung Care Center. Mr. Lofgren assisted the family in structuring that gift as well.

Mr. Lofgren's practice focuses on taxation, estate planning, family wealth protection and transfer. His experience as a former trial attorney for the IRS coupled with his extensive experience in income, estate, gift, generation-skipping tax matters and tax planning for closely held businesses enables Norm to create solutions that minimize tax exposure and preserve wealth.

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 90 lawyers practicing in Houston, Dallas and Tyler. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, and bankruptcy.  For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.