Why Unleash The Oaks?
Why it is Important to Continue Your Support
A little more than one decade ago, December 2012, I experienced my extreme accident, becoming a quadriplegic with additional disabilities. Thankfully, my family was able to use an Oregon law to set up an Irrevocable Trust to support my well-being. For example, we were able to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van. It is now time to raise funds again.
Several decades as a human rights activist, in both the mental health & physical disability movements, have helped prepare me a little bit when I broke my neck. The lessons from this resilient community of leaders, mainly psychiatric survivors & allies, assisted in my recovery and rehabilitation.
This Trust has been crucial to building an independent life. While of course, Social Security Disability covers my very basics, my quality of life are truly dependent on a special Irrevocable Trust. A surprising number of medical necessities are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Plus, there are those important extras that make my life easier, such as a few streaming services. This Trust also helped start my consulting business, Aciu! Institute, that has not made a profit, yet, but is doing important efforts that I call “Green Disability.”
During my whole life, my absolute biggest supporter was my amazing mother, Violet Oaks. For example, before my fall, quietly, she was the main volunteer in the MindFreedom office, reorganizing everything. After my fall, Mom championed my Trust. When she died in 2015 at the age of 97, a small inheritance from her sustained this Trust. Therefore, we did not do much fundraising, but now we need to support this Trust again.
The original Irrevocable Trust was set up at Chase Bank, which I later discovered is one of the worst on the climate crisis. Last year, we have moved my irrevocable medical trust to Oregon Pacific Bank.
Please consider a major gift marking my 10-year anniversary! After this decade-marking gift, please begin to consider giving a monthly gift, probably smaller, to sustain my Irrevocable Trust into the future. Also, if I die before my wonderful wife, Debra, this Trust will then be a way to support her independence.
This is the ten-year anniversary of my catastrophic accident. My blog entry describes what I’ve learned from this decade journey, and why I hope you can support my trust: https://davidwoaks.com/1-decade-after-oaks-broke-neck
For more info about David W. Oaks, see his consulting site.
On the right is more information about how to support my Unleash The Oaks campaign. Below you will find a brief video about me that was shown on Oregon Public Broadcasting.
How To Unleash The Oaks?
Last year, during 2022, generous anonymous donors made a $4,000 Challenge Matching Gift. You made this goal! To read more about this successful Matching Challenge, go here.
We encourage you to make this a long-term, ongoing support campaign.
There are several easy ways for you to give, any amount is appreciated. We all thank you, even if you give just once. But a commitment of ongoing monthly support builds sustainability:
1) USE ANY CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL ACCOUNT to make a one-time secure easy gift.
2) USE YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT: (easy and free to start one) to donate monthly. Please choose your level of support below then click subscribe.
3) SEND A CHECK: Some folks do not wish to use credit card. No problem! Please make your check payable to: David W Oaks Irrevocable Trust
Please mail or drop off your cash or check directly to:
David W Oaks Irrevocable Trust
c/o Oregon Pacific Bank
59 E 11th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
It would help them if you referenced account number 2532840 in the memo line of your check. Be sure to put your return address on your envelope so we can thank you!
4) DIRECT TRANSFER: You may ask your bank about direct transfers from your bank to the Trust at Oregon Pacific Bank, either as a one-time gift or monthly. Provide your bank with the information below:
- ACH Routing Number for Oregon Pacific Bank: 123206338
- Account Number for David W Oaks Irrevocable Trust: 2532840
Note: your contribution to the David W Oaks Irrevocable Trust, while a gift, is not tax deductible and, of course, it is not refundable.
[Updated: 7 Feb 2023]
Thanks for your support!
Watch the full 10-minute film by David Zupan, as aired on Oregon Public Broadcasting.