More than 70 years after Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) helped place her with a loving family, Nancy Jo Coburn, MD, is giving back to the organization that helped shape her future. Today, she lives outside Sacramento, California, where retirement looks much different than her years practicing medicine. Nancy spends her time traveling and creating handmade quilts that she donates to organizations serving international refugees and survivors of domestic abuse. But despite living nearly 1,500 miles from Kansas, she remains deeply connected to the state and the agency that changed the course of her life.
A foundation for a lifetime of success
In 1953, Nancy was adopted through KCSL. She credits that experience with providing the stable, supportive foundation that allowed her to thrive.
“I am the personification of KCSL,” Nancy said. “I was adopted into a loving and supportive family. As a result of that, I became a successful physician whose career spanned over three decades helping people. And it all started with KCSL.”
That foundation carried her through a successful career in internal medicine, where she cared for patients in private practice for more than 30 years. As a physician, she witnessed firsthand how strong families and healthy relationships can influence long-term outcomes for both adults and children. Her story stands as a powerful example of the lasting impact adoption, family support services and child well-being programs can have across generations.
A lasting connection to Kansas
Although decades have passed since her adoption, Nancy’s connection to KCSL remains personal. Her father adopted both Nancy and her sister through KCSL and believed strongly in KCSL’s mission. She now gives to KCSL in memory of her father. She takes pride in knowing her support continues to help children and families in the state where her family’s story began.
“Every time I think of the donation in Dad’s name, helping Kansas children and families, I break out into the biggest grin because I know how happy he would be,” Nancy said.
Her support demonstrates that making a difference doesn’t depend on where someone lives. For Nancy, investing in Kansas families is a way to honor her past while creating opportunities for others.
Creating generational change
During her medical career, she treated many patients experiencing depression and other challenges that affected family relationships. As patients received support and improved their well-being, she often saw positive changes in their relationships with their children. Those experiences reinforced her belief that strong families create ripple effects that extend far beyond a single generation.
She sees the same principle in KCSL’s work today. By strengthening families through prevention and support services, KCSL helps create positive outcomes that can shape children’s lives for years to come. Nancy also understands that donor support plays a critical role in making those services possible.
“The role that donors play in helping KCSL maintain its current and future responsibilities to children and families cannot be overstated,” she said. “Simply put, donors are the lifeblood of KCSL.”
Through her giving, Nancy helps ensure new stories can begin for children and families across Kansas. As an adoptee, physician, donor and advocate, she represents the enduring impact of KCSL’s mission. Her life is a reminder that investments in children today can create opportunities that last a lifetime and inspire future generations to give back.
