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Mon General campaign raises $13.3 million: Tops fundraising goal for upgrades, construction(The Dominion Post in Morgantown (WV)(KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jun. 29--INFO on how to donate: Bill Hennessey, executive director of The Foundation of Mon General, 1200 J.D. Anderson Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505; 598-1208; [email protected]. Monongalia General Hospital's "Our Community Hospital Campaign -- Quality Care Close to Home" has exceeded its goal of raising $12 million for the hospital's $92 million renovation and expansion project. Pat Martin, chairman of the board of directors of The Foundation of Mon General Hospital, announced that the campaign has raised $13.3 million so far -- $1.3 million above goal. And there are still 2 1/2 years to go in the campaign. Donors and others involved in the campaign learned the news at a "Major Donor Reception & Recognition Dinner" on Saturday in the lobby of the hospital's new fivestory Hazel Ruby McQuain Tower. Donors were invited to the reception and dinner as a thank-you for helping make the campaign a success to this point. Donors John and Irene Muffly said they are encouraged by the high numbers. "We were a little surprised the goal was exceeded so quickly," John Muffly said. "Here we are already over the goal. We are quite pleased the goal was reached and surpassed in such short order." Muffly said he was spurred to contribute to the campaign in memory of his parents who died at the hospital. His father, Paul Muffly, died there 20 years ago; and his mother, Louise Muffly, died a couple of years ago. "I was glad to help," Muffly said. Nurse Audrey Veschio, the hospital's unit director of surgery, orthopedics and pediatrics, said, as "just a regular working person," she was thrilled to be a major donor, too. She said donating some of her vacation time every payday over five years allows her to be at that level of support. The portion is automatically deducted from her paycheck. "It's painless," Veschio said. "I don't miss the money, and it's the least I can do. It's an awesome way to contribute." Veschio, employed at Mon General for 25 years, said it was important to her to be a significant part of the campaign, because her employment there has allowed her to have a good lifestyle. "They've been good to me and to my family," she said. According to a hospital press release, Mon General's foundation launched the campaign in late 2005 with a $6 million challenge gift from The Ruby Foundation of Morgantown. Greg Kealey, marketing director for Mon Health System, said each gift, up to $6 million, is matched by The Ruby Foundation on a dollarfor-dollar basis. The announced total included the match. Bill Hennessey, executive director of The Foundation of Mon General, praised The Ruby Foundation's role in the success of the campaign. "The Ruby Foundation is the philanthropic leader in Morgantown and the surrounding area," Hennessey said. "Their support of this campaign was crucial and created the sense of confidence that we could succeed in this challenging endeavor. "With the support of this generous community we were able to reach and surpass our goal." According to the press release, some of the larger contributions have included a $1 million pledge from the Auxiliary of Mon General Hospital, $500,000 from Mon Health System board members and $451,000 from Mon Health System employees. Huntington Bank committed $250,000 to the campaign, Centra Bank gave $150,000, BB&T gave $100,000, United Bank gave $100,000 and Clear Mountain Bank gave $50,000, Hennessey said. The remainder of the money raised has been donated by Mon General physicians, individuals and businesses. Golf tournaments, candy sales and other fundraisers helped bring in other funding. Hennessey said the foundation appreciates all of the efforts of the people who have worked on the campaign. "We're so pleased that so many people have opened their hearts and checkbooks to make this campaign a success," he said. "We had dozens of volunteers out talking to leaders throughout the community, helping people understand the importance of this campaign." Donors had the opportunity to tour the new patient tower before the reception and the thank-you dinner. Community members can also get tours of the patient tower during open houses, and Kealey said they hope people come out to see the new facility. The Hazel Ruby McQuain Tower will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. July 11. Following the dedication, the first of two community open houses will be held until 9 p.m. that day. A second community open house is scheduled from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. July 12. During the community open houses, the new tower will be open for selfguided tours. Hospital staff will be available to answer questions about the new state-of-the-art tower, which features all private patient rooms, a new Intensive Care Unit, a new Imaging/Radiology Department, an expanded Emergency Department and a Women's Imaging Center, Kealey said. Mon General's renovation and expansion project broke ground in late 2005, according to the press release. Once the renovation and expansion is complete in 2009, the 189-bed Mon General will feature all private rooms for patients and their families, a new Intensive Care Unit, an expanded Emergency Department, a new Imaging and Radiology Department, and a comprehensive new Women's Health Center. This is the largest building project ever undertaken by Mon General and included the construction of the five-floor Hazel Ruby McQuain Tower and the renovation of the existing Mon General Hospital, Kealey said. The new patient tower was completed this month, with the first patient expected to be admitted July 14. He said the renovation of the existing hospital is expected to be completed in late 2009. The current Mon General Hospital opened in 1977. Kealey said, "The $92 million building and renovation project is designed to bring Mon General, from a facilities standpoint, into the 21st century, and the expanded and renovated hospital will provide the privacy and comfort today's patients have come to expect." To see more of The Dominion Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dominionpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |