Carrying forth a legacy, Toleo Foundation invests $1 million in cardiac rehabilitation.

Randall Kaplan’s father, Leonard, braved an astounding 10 bypass surgeries by the time he was in his mid-40s.

Despite having heart disease, he lived until the age of 87. He attributed his longevity to collaborative efforts with his cardiologist Dr. Jerry Ruskin to remain stable and prevent further attacks.

“He returned from all those bypasses serious about recovery,” Randall recalls. “He understood the importance of exercise and proper nutrition, and committed to it.”

Leonard was equally dedicated to the wellness of his fellow community members, a passion he shared with Ruskin. Together, they established a cardiac rehab program at the YMCA, which later moved to Cone Health and is now recognized as the Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Heart, Vascular and Lung Health. 

“This was 40 years ago, so it was very ahead of its time,” Randall says.

According to the World Heart Foundation, an estimated 80% of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are preventable. Even in Leonard’s case, which Randall believes was largely genetic, prevention was possible — and Leonard wanted that opportunity for the greater community as well. The cardiac rehab program was his way of helping others avoid the threat of heart disease.

Committing to Change

Leonard's tenacity and discipline not only helped him manage his heart condition but also led to his becoming a successful businessman and philanthropist.

“He was a child of the Depression,” Randall says. “When his father’s business closed, he watched him struggle to re-establish himself. So he was always very grateful that he ended up being successful.”

Successful, he was. After dropping out of college to support the family, Leonard transformed his father’s janitorial supply company into a booming chemical company, Kay Chemical, which became the world’s leading supplier of cleaning and sanitation programs to the fast food industry, serving major chains like McDonald’s and Hardees.

What’s even more inspiring than Leonard’s business success is his impact as a philanthropist.

“He was the most charitable and generous person you would ever meet,” Randall says. “And not in a frivolous way. He was very thoughtful and purposeful.”

After Kay Chemical merged with Ecolab, Leonard turned his attention full-time to philanthropy and created The Wealth and Giving Forum. 

“My dad put on this program twice a year for about 10 years,” Randall remembers. “He invited wealthy people for an inspiring weekend to learn how to go about philanthropy and make it meaningful. His goal was to inspire others to use their wealth to make a difference. It wasn't judgmental or for a particular charity. It was simply about deciding to use your resources to make a better world.”

There’s no telling how many people Leonard inspired, but the legacy within his own family is unmistakable.

“My parents’ goal was to give away all of their money to benefit the community by the time they died,” Randall says. “My mother and father taught us how blessed we are and that if we have the ability to make a difference, we should do it.”

Randall and his wife, Kathy Manning, have long carried forth the Kaplan legacy. Their most recent gift, a $1 million contribution from the Toleo Foundation, invests in cardiac rehab in new, exciting ways, allowing Cone Health to add a meditation room and a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, among other resources.

“This is a place where every patient can come to get their disease under control and gain back their freedom with the support of a multidisciplinary team,” Randall says. “When Cone showed us the plans, we were already sold. We loved their vision and trusted them implicitly. They know precisely what our community needs.”

For Randall, investing in cardiac health is a way to carry forward the torch first lit by his father.

“Healthy living is the predicate for a long life. We want to help those who’ve had an incident get back on track in a beautiful, welcoming space that prioritizes prevention. We also want the center to teach us all how to stay healthy, especially community members who lack easy access to medical care and healthy nutrition. This, along with continuing to attract nationally recognized cardiologists, will help us save many lives.”