The George S. Ladd Memorial Fund is a trust established in 1918
by Elizabeth Patterson Mitchell (the widow of George S. Ladd). Mr.
Ladd was the first President of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
Company.
The purpose of the Ladd fund was to help retirees who have severe
financial needs and to provide for their care and assistance.
The original intent was to build a hospital for old employees
of the Telephone Company not able to work or who were disabled. This
was later changed to a Fund administered by the Company.
In 1988 W. E. (Bill) Helbling passed away and left his estate
to the Company for a non-profit fund. The purpose is to disburse funds
to needy retired employees for assistance with hospital care, medical
and surgical treatments.
These funds are generally used to provide one-time assistance
and/or small stipends.
To apply for Ladd/Helbling funds you must complete an application
form (available by writing to George S. Ladd Memorial Fund/W.E. Helbling
Fund, 2600 Camino Ramon, Room 2NO5O, San Ramon, CA 94583. (This information
was made available by Ms. Ellen Schwafel-Singleton, Associate Director,
Labor Relations. She can be reached at 1-925-867-8540 or 925-866-1835
(Fax).
Your application for financial assistance must clearly state the
reason for requesting financial assistance and a full disclosure of
all financial resources. You will also need to identify your current
liabilities (monthly rent, home payments, life insurance, automobile,
bank accounts, savings, investments, including stock ownership).
You will also be asked to provide the amount of your monthly income,
including your military pension (if applicable), company pension,
Social Security, income property and dividends.
The paper work is extensive to ascertain the genuine
needs of Pacific Bell company retirees. Also, as stated, the funds
can be granted on a one-time basis (for major medical
bills, etc.) or for monthly payments to supplement a retirees
basic income.