$80,526 by 8/05/26

Mandi Zucker

April 30, 2026

Live How You Like, Leave How You Like

Dear Friends,

We are working toward an urgent and meaningful goal: raising $80,526 by August 5, 2026 — Implementation Day. This milestone represents more than a dollar amount, and it represents more than just the date that the law will be available to use medical aid in dying (8.05.26). It represents access, dignity, and informed choice for individuals and families navigating some of life’s most difficult moments.

Every dollar you give directly supports education, outreach, and compassionate guidance for those seeking information about Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). Here’s what your support makes possible:

$75 allows us to mail flyers to organizations who need to know about MAID.
$100 allows us to support a family who calls with urgent questions, offering clarity and reassurance when it matters most.
$500 allows us to staff a table at a health fair or event that gives us in-person access to people looking for information.
$1,000 allows us to provide scholarship funding for individuals who cannot afford medications not covered by insurance.
$2,500 allows us to host an educational workshop for the public, increasing awareness and understanding in our communities.
$10,000 allows us to design, create and disseminate comprehensive materials that educate both professionals and patients on how to access medical aid in dying.

Each contribution, no matter the size, moves us closer to a future where no one faces these decisions without support, information, and compassion.

Help us reach $80,526 by 08/05/26. Together, we can ensure that individuals and families have the resources they need when they need them most.

If you are able, please consider making a donation today and sharing this campaign with others who care about expanding access to informed, end-of-life options.

Sincerely,
Mandi Zucker
Executive Director

Recent Events & Updates

EOLCNY Making News!

Our own Board Member, Peter Strauss, recently wrote an article that was published in the New York State Bar Associations Elder and Special Needs Law Journal, which was edited by Mandi Zucker and David Leven, current and emeritus Executive Directors.

The article, which you can read here, discusses New York’s medical aid in dying law and shares how it expands end-of-life autonomy while balancing strong safeguards.

Upcoming Events

We have several upcoming events that we encourage you to join. Find one, or several, options that you connect to and join us!

End of Life Binder Making. May 6, 1200-1:30 PM on zoom. The adage “sharing is caring” rings true when you are living your life to the fullest! As you jump into your adventures with both feet, steady yourself by planning ahead with our Essentials Binder. End of Life Choices New York’s “Essentials: Emergency and End of Life Binder” is a customizable collection of documents that serves as a guide to making your wishes and values known for emergency situations and the end of your life. Along with your Advance Care Planning, our Essentials Binders goes one step further and organizes our personal documents, everyday logistics, arrangements, and financial information for your peace of mind and a stronger sense of security for yourself. Go out and enjoy your life while knowing that you’ve created your guide to provide your loved ones and caretakers an ease of transition! Register for this free event here or reach out to Nathalie@eolcny.org to get a free PDF copy of there binder contents!
Epitaphing: Living, Dying and Dementia. May 8, 1:30-2:30 PM on zoom. Join Wally Klatch, a man living with Dementia, as he talks about writing your own epitaph. He will share why writing his own epitaph has helped him come to terms with dying. Register for this free event here.
Online Meet-n-Greet. May 11th at 3 PM. Take an hour out of your day to get to knows, and introduce yourself to our team! Meet the Executive Director and a board member to learn more about our efforts to provide excellent care to New Yorkers at the end of life. Register for this free event here.
Long Island Fundraiser. May 14 at 6:30. Help us celebrate the monumental achievement of passing Medical Aid in Dying in NY, and support our efforts for a smooth implementation. The event is free to attend. Donations accepted with registration or at the event. Register here.

Update on Medical Aid in Dying Implementation

Our work continues with the implementation of medical aid in dying. We have been meeting with a steady stream of medical organizations that are interested in learning more about providing this support. And even those facilities that are not interested in providing direct care are reaching out asking how to make appropriate referrals, which is incredibly important. We know everyone will not feel comfortable providing this care. And thats OK! We just want to make sure even these clinicians understand how to assist patients in finding the right kind of support.

We continue to speak to patients who are interested in considering medical aid in dying and have already begun connecting them to physicians to pre-plan as much as they can which receiving quality care. We have also been able to connect patients with family members of people who used medical aid in dying in other states, so they can begin to learn what the process was generally like (although it will be slightly different one each state) and ask questions that only family and friends who be able to answer. We are honored to be able to coordinate this part of the process. If you are in need, please reach out to us! If you are a clinician of any sort (doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, volunteer, doula, or hospital/hospice system), please complete this survey. The answers to this survey will not be made public but will allow us to reach out to you to offer you the opportunity to connect with patients based on their needs.

Please continue to share the flyer highlighting our partnership with the Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine with anyone you think could benefit from resources and education. Together with The Academy, we are your go-to source for all things related to the implementation of excellent aid-in-dying care. Please reach out to us with questions, concerns and needs.

If you learn of trainings in your community, please forward them to us so we can reach out and let them know about the support we can provide. We are thrilled that we have been seeing trainings popping up and we want to support any organization to provide the best quality care possible.

We continue to receive many requests by major media outlets to interview people who are considering this option when it becomes available. This is an important way we can use the media to bring more awareness about this option. If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and will likely be eligible to use medical aid in dying in the next 6-12 months, and you’d be willing to talk to the media either in print or on TV, please let me know. I can put you in touch with very sensitive reporters and producers who want to help share your story in a compassionate and dignified manner.

Ask Us Anything

Q: I know you need witnesses to sign the written request for medical aid in dying that cannot benefit from my death (i.e. inherit money or property). I dont have a lot of family or friends left. How can I make sure someone can witness this part of the process?

A: Being a witness to the request is an important piece of the process. This person does not need to be an expert in competency but must be able to make a reasonable judgement that you are competent. They also must witness in person so they need to be local. If you need help finding someone, reach out to us and we will see if we can help find someone. If you’d be interested in volunteering to be a witness, please reach out as well.

If you have a question you’d like answered, send it here!

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