St. John Medical Center Foundation Raises Funds for Hospital Renovation
cathy barr, foundation, funds, health care, raises, renovation, st. john medical center,
The work of the St. John Medical Center Foundation reflects an impassioned desire by many area citizens to invest in the future health care of their community.
With the medical center’s $46 million facility renovation under way‚ the foundation is working to raise money for a massive‚ five-year project.
And the community‚ once again‚ is responding to the foundation’s calls for help.
The foundation aims to raise $4 million for this project. Some money comes from grants and the foundation’s annual golf tournament; however‚ most of it is coming from private donations from residents and businesses.
By spring 2005‚ the foundation had raised half its goal‚ says Cathy Barr‚ the foundation’s executive director.
Among the foundation’s largest donations is a $1 million gift by Jeanne Wertheimer of Longview‚ in memory of her late daughter‚ a former patient there. A $500‚000 donation also was made by the Friends of St. John.
And an employee-giving campaign‚ which aimed to raise $250‚000‚ surpassed its goal in only four months‚ Barr says. Already more than $270‚000 has been donated.
“Our employees have really rallied around us to make this a success‚” Barr says. Formed in 1986‚ the foundation was created to help raise money for hospital programs and projects. Over the years‚ with the help of the community‚ the foundation has raised money for several projects‚ including‚ most recently‚ the hospital’s dialysis unit renovation.
Now‚ the foundation’s focus is on this construction project‚ which includes the renovation of the hospital’s eight-floor patient tower. The work will be completed floor by floor‚ with the first phase of the project‚ updating and improving the hospital’s birth center‚ under way.
Renovations being made to the patient tower will upgrade existing facilities and modernize the hospital. The birth center project is expected to cost $4.5 million; the foundation seeks to raise $1.5 million‚ Barr says.
About 1‚200 babies are born annually in the birth center. With the renovations completed‚ all rooms will be private. The rooms will be state-of- the-art as well as comfortable‚ allowing expectant fathers to also stay overnight‚ Barr says. There will be added support space‚ a family waiting room and a special-care nursery for six newborn-care stations.
The renovation project then will move on to the critical care unit‚ which will have 18 private rooms. The foundation aims to raise $1.5 million for that project. The foundation also hopes to raise $1 million for renovations to the emergency department and medical/surgical floors‚ projects to follow the critical care unit.
Working with the foundation is its 30-member board. Board member Linda Doerr says a more modern facility will help the hospital recruit top-notch doctors while providing families with excellent medical care.
“The community is only as good as what we give to it‚” Doerr says.
Story by Jill FitzSimmons
Photo by Wes Aldridge
