For more than a decade, Patty Nece has been part of the OAC Community. But before finding OAC, talking about her weight was something she avoided.

“I was too embarrassed and ashamed,” Patty said. “I felt like a failure because I couldn’t manage my weight on my own.”

Through OAC, Patty began learning more about obesity as a chronic disease and exploring the ways weight stigma had affected her life. That understanding helped change how she viewed her own experiences and eventually led her to discover a passion for helping others affected by obesity.

OAC became more than an organization Patty supported. It became a community that had made a meaningful difference in her life.

“Remembering OAC with a gift from my estate is like remembering an old friend who made a real difference in my life,” she said. That is why Patty has chosen to include OAC as a beneficiary in her will.

For Patty, the decision is about making sure the work that has mattered to her continues for the people who come next. She points to OAC’s efforts to fight weight stigma, advocate for access to comprehensive obesity treatment and create a supportive community for people who understand what it is like to live with obesity.

She has experienced the importance of that work firsthand, including through access to the medication she uses to manage her disease.

“I want all of that work to continue so that others benefit too,” Patty said.

Building a Different Future

For Patty, her legacy is about helping create a better future for people affected by obesity. She hopes future generations experience less weight stigma, greater understanding and better access to comprehensive obesity care.

“I don’t want future generations to live with a misunderstood and stigmatized disease like I have throughout my life,” she said.

Including OAC in her estate plans is one way Patty can help move that future forward.

Leaving a Legacy Through OAC

Patty sees planned giving as another way to support work you believe should continue, regardless of the size of the gift.

“As far as I can see, the need for OAC’s work isn’t going away anytime soon,” Patty said.

Through her gift, Patty hopes to support OAC’s future and inspire others to continue building a world with less weight stigma and better access to care. Interested in making OAC part of your legacy? Learn more about ways to include OAC in your estate plans.