SIDNEY — As Wilson Health looks forward to a new year, the Foundation Board of Trustees and staff gratefully acknowledge all who have donated resources over the years to develop facilities and services to meet the healthcare needs of the community.
“Since 1930, the Hospital has continued to expand the quality healthcare services offered to the community. With the addition of the Thomas Boecker Professional Building, many Wilson Health Medical Group providers will be located on the main campus making it even more convenient for our patients,” said Bonnie Faulkner, executive director of the Wilson Health Foundation.
“In the healthcare field, progress and change seems to take place almost overnight bringing many opportunities and challenges. The challenges come in the form of ever-changing technology and innovations and the cost to bring these to Wilson. The opportunities that these challenges offer allow our staff to provide even better care to our patients, close to home. In addition, the Foundation’s efforts to build strong philanthropic partnerships with individuals and area businesses will provide the finances to ensure that Wilson has the up-to-date technology necessary to meet today’s needs as well as those of the future,” stated Faulkner.
“The Wilson Health Foundation received consistent and exceptionally generous support in 2015, which assisted us in achieving revenues of $402,290,” Faulkner said. “The outstanding result of the Foundation’s 1930 Club annual giving program alone is testimony to the goodwill and concern of the people of Shelby County and resulted in nearly $63,290 in 2015. People want to give, and prefer to support local charities closer to home where they can see the benefits that their hard-earned dollars bring to them and their families.”
Her report continues:
Four new trustees, Tony Arnold, Joe Lachey, Mike Lochard and Chad Sollmann were elected to the Foundation Board for a three-year term of office. Officers include Tonya Thieman who serves as the chair, along with other officers: Vance Stewart, vice chair/chair-elect; Mick Given, secretary/treasurer; and Faulkner who continues as executive director. Planned giving remains a focus of the Wilson Health Foundation. The Wilson Society, established to honor those who include the hospital in their estate plans, continues to grow, with 71 members to date.
The efforts of committee members John Wolfinger and Marla Flinn along with Foundation staff netted over $44,400 for Wilson’s annual golf outing. The annual charity ball resulted in net revenue of nearly $42,219 thanks to committee members Scarlet Francis, Melissa McDonald, Beth Roe, Jackie Simpson, Linda Stewart, and Kiera Sullivan.
Hospice donations totaled $70,900 including $24,656 from the Caring at Christmas organization as well as $5,375 from Light Up a Life
Grants totaling $6,200 were received from the Monarch Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation. Gifts specifically restricted by the donor, nearly $103,000, were received from the Betty Z. Bennett Fund, Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc., and the Wilson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary among others.
The Wilson Health Foundation’s Angel Fund enables the Hospital to provide assistance to Wilson Hospice patients and their caregivers with an immediate need. The Angel Fund is specifically intended to improve the quality of life for patients who are living with life-limiting illness. Donations to the Angel Fund totaled nearly $14,300 including donations from the Newport Sportsmen Club, Catholic War Veterans, 47 Bar & Grill Poker Run, and the Scott Arnold Memorial Golf Scramble among others.
Two estate planning seminars were offered in 2015 at no charge to members of our community. Speakers included local attorney Ralph Keister with Faulkner, Garmhausen, Keister & Shenk and Judge William Zimmerman. Keister’s presentation provided information on basic estate planning, why one needs to have a will. Judge Zimmerman discussed the impact on an individual’s estate in the absence of a will.
The second seminar addressed the importance of a guaranteed income in retirement and creating a lifelong income stream. Presenters were Bruce Dickman and Timothy R. Ippisch, CFP who are both with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
These seminars were a collaborative effort sponsored by the Community Foundation, Dorothy Love Retirement Community, YMCA Foundation, Lehman Foundation and the Wilson Health Foundation.
Wilson Health was very pleased and proud to celebrate eighty-five years of service to the Sidney and Shelby County community in 2015. This does not mean that we rest on our laurels, but rather view our successes as incentive and inspiration to continually improve Wilson Health. Strong, unwavering support from donors reflects their trust in Wilson’s ability to provide top-notch care for not only themselves but for their families.
The Hospital has made many additions and improvements to our service lines as well as the recruitment of new physicians and specialists to provide even better care for our patients,” said Faulkner.
A new medical building on campus is expected to be completed in spring 2016. This building will be occupied by several of the physicians who are part of the Wilson Health Medical Group. Locating these physicians in an on-campus building will be a significant convenience for Wilson’s patients.
A search for a new executive director to lead the Wilson Health Foundation is expected to be completed in early 2016.
Wilson Health has received strong support from the community – support that has been instrumental in the hospital’s continued success. The goals for 2016 for the Wilson Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees will follow along the same path as those who came before them and who served the hospital since inception in 1930. Healthcare is a vital part of the community and is a basic need that is often taken for granted. Life’s experiences have taught us the exact opposite – quality healthcare is of the utmost importance to each and every one of us.
