The $10 million New Hospital Campaign currently being conducted by the Livingston HealthCare Foundation has now received more than $6 million in gift commitments, according to David Stanley, LHC Foundation board chair and co- chair of the campaign.
“The response to our campaign to help pay for this wonderful new hospital has truly been tremendous,” said Stanley. “I have been involved in many fundraising campaigns, but this has to be one of the most gratifying. We needed some very big gifts up front because our campaign goal is so ambitious, and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our donors so far.”
Stanley said that the campaign has received two gifts of $1 million, two gifts of $500,000, five gifts of $250,000, and five gifts of $100,000 to date. “In addition,” he said, “we have received about $550,000 in smaller gifts from area residents, each of which is extraordinarily generous.”
Campaign co-chair Debbie Erdman emphasized the leadership role of hospital ‘family’ gifts that were the first campaign commitments to be made by LHC board members, employees, and doctors.
“We were all hugely inspired, for example, when 167 of our employees pledged almost $260,000 to the campaign,” said Erdman. “I was just stunned by the level of their generosity and commitment to the need for this new hospital. After all, who knows the needs of our hospital better than the nurses, technicians, and other employees who serve our patients every day?”
The campaign is being conducted by a group of 23 community volunteers who are approaching Park County full-time and part-time residents for support, according to Stanley and Erdman. “This is very time consuming work,” said Stanley, “but I think it is fair to say that it is a ‘labor of love’ for all of us. I think everyone on our Campaign Cabinet is involved because they know how important this hospital is to the future of Park County and to every resident – whether they are full-time or part-time – who lives here.”
Erdman noted that the $10 million campaign goal includes $7 million to help pay for the $43.5 million cost of building and equipping the new hospital, as well as $3 million in initial working capital that the hospital will need in the first few years it is open. The new facility is currently scheduled to open in the fall of 2015.
The Campaign Cabinet includes, in addition to Erdman and Stanley, Julie Anderson, Shiell Anderson, Michelle Becker, Corky Brittan, Dr. Scott Coleman, Lee Freeman, Bob Gersack, Joe Hanser, Lauren Harris Eaton, Dan Kaul, Bren Lowe, Dr. Marcia Bull (McCrum), Barbara Moore, Dr. Dennis Noteboom, Denis Prager, Tracy Raich, Chris Salacinski, Dr. Ted Scofield, Joe Swindlehurst, Dan Vermillion, and Dr. Doug Wadle.