Accepting The Challenge
Foundation Sets $1 Million Goal
Printed in the Clay Center Dispatch on May 4, 2006
By Marcia Newell
Accepting the challenge of “Building for a Healthy Future” is the current focus of the Clay County Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees for the upcoming expansion project. That challenge is multi-faceted. First, it involved a commitment by the board to come up with an appropriate theme for the project. Secondly, the board has dedicated their time and energy to a capital campaign in which they expect to contribute a million dollars to the upcoming expansion project. Thirdly, the board chose to collectively respond to the Chapman challenge of $20,000 in raising matching funds for this endeavor. (To date, they have more than doubled that amount from within the board.). They have laid the foundational building blocks of commitment, dedication and financial support. They will be calling on you as a community to help them meet their goal of contributing a million dollars toward the hospital expansion project.
The Clay County Hospital Foundation has a history of success resulting from the work of many ambitious individuals. It is appropriate to look at that history as we embark on adding to the accomplishments of those who served the community in the past.
Reprinted from The Clay Center Dispatch, Friday, October 8, 1993) written by Charles Stuart and Margie Braden.
“During the mid-1980’s, it became obvious to the Board of Trustees of Clay County Hospital that retaining a medical staff and a modern hospital would take extensive community involvement. It was equally obvious that individual and corporate financial contributions to this effort would be more readily forthcoming if the contributions could be tax-exempt. The hospital trustees began researching the possibility of creating a Clay County Hospital Foundation.”
A concerted effort was made to explain purposes of the foundation and recruit charter members. Presentations were made to community organizations and neighborhood coffees. This resulted in 72 charter members who were willing to donate a minimum of $500. A charter membership plaque recognizing these visionary individuals is located in the hallway outside the hospital business office.
“This foundation was approved and registered with the Kansas Secretary of State’s office in April 1987. Board members named in the original application were Harvey Frigon of the hospital trustees and Darlene Wernette. On July 1, 1988, the foundation was granted an exemption from federal income tax by the Internal Revenue Service. This action, combined with the previous approval from the Kansas Secretary of State, allowed for the formation of a permanent board of directors.”
The original goal of providing a free flow of ideas from various groups vitally interested in the hospital influenced the formation of the original board of directors and continues to guide the makeup of the present board. These ideas focus on the mission statement of the Clay County Hospital Foundation, which is to secure voluntary gift support for the Clay County Medical Center.
Today’s realities include continually rising costs and increasing numbers of people who need medical attention. As the Foundation Board of Trustees works to preserve and strengthen our community health care system by encouraging support through a variety of charitable giving programs, its benefactors see they can make a difference. There are several ways in which individuals can help provide vital health services for residents of Clay and the neighboring counties. Although the current expansion is foremost in everyone’s mind, there are ways of giving that reach beyond the immediate project. Donors who wish to honor the memory of a loved one may create a memorial on their behalf. Donors also have the option of ear marking their gifts in three development categories: A permanent Endowment Fund, a Long Term Fund and an Unrestricted Fund.
ENDOWMENT FUNDS remain in the endowment in perpetuity. The interest or earnings from the donor’s contribution is the only portion that can be used for a specific purpose to be determined by the donor or the board of trustees; LONG TERM FUNDS are used for major item needs such as construction projects or large pieces of equipment; and UNRESTRICTED USE FUNDS are used in a manner determined by the board of trustees in keeping with the mission of the foundation.
Special tax incentives are available for people with a charitable heart who wish to consider deferred gifts through estate planning. This can be done simply through a bequest or by establishing various kinds of trusts, such as charitable remainder trusts, made available to encourage philanthropy. Life insurance plans can also be used in this manner. Careful consideration along with the advice of your attorney is a crucial part of the planning process.
Since the Foundation’s beginning in 1987, Foundation members have invested money towards improving healthcare in this community. Because of this commitment, quality medical care, close to home, continues to be an option. Anyone who desires to be a part of this commitment may contact one of the members of the board of trustees: President, Mike Floersch; Secretary, Marion Stuart; Treasurer, Sandy Fox; Ron Bender, CEO; Jim Braden; Gary Griffiths; Dr. Stanley Hatesohl; Dustin Mullin; Grace Oetinger; Jerry Patterson; Scott Patterson; Preston Rook; Ron Roth; Mike Ryan; Walt Slingsby; Charlotte Stagner; Lloyd Starkweather; Clyde Wollenberg and Marcia Newell, Director.
In the last few weeks, newspaper articles have explored challenges of the past, present and future. Mark Chapman gave $20,000 as a challenge to this community to jump start the capital campaign. Those dollars combined with previously accumulated funds held by the Foundation provide a strong basis for the larger challenge of contributing a million dollars. In the coming weeks, articles describing the individual departments and services offered by the hospital will be outlined in detail. Accepting the challenge of “Building for a Healthy Future” requires a commitment from many of us and benefits everyone.
