April 12, 2004

GETTING STUFFED - The envelopes holding the latest mailer for the Cumberland Health Care Foundation got stuffed, sealed and sent off last week. From front to back are Kelly Hurley, foundation executive director Jodi Swan and foundation board chair Phyllis Cameron stuffing envelopes with the bright brochure outlining the foundation's work and soliciting funds for the foundations many health care initiatives.

SEEKING TO INCREASE FUNDS:
Health care foundation launches new campaign
by Sandra Bales, Amherst Daily News

UPPER NAPPAN - The Cumberland Health Care Foundation has launched a new fundraising campaign that invites county residents to contribute to the growth of the foundation as it works to support health care in Cumberland County.

Jodi Swan, executive director of the foundation explained this new initiative is part of the foundation's mission to enhance the ability to provide a high standard of health care to all residents of Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improves services, programs, equipment and facilities.

"This fundraiser will be an annual mailout to raise money for the endowment fund, equipment fund or donors can indicate the funds are for the area of greatest need," Swan said. Last week the foundation sent out 15,050 mailouts to Cumberland County residents. Another four boxes of mailouts will be sent off in the next few days.

The foundation's other mailout campaign is the Light The Way fundraiser, which is held each year at Christmas time. Swan says she hopes this one will catch on the same way Light the Way has. "The foundation was originally formed to raise funds for the construction of the new hospital in Upper Nappan. Phyllis Cameron, chair of the foundation's board expressed her appreciation for the support that fundraising campaign received an d hopes that good will and generosity continues.

"I hope they still support us on the basis of that and I hope this will be a successful campaign," she added. Regardless of the funds raised, the foundation hopes it raises awareness of the needs of the health care system in Cumberland County and the way donation can help present and future needs of Cumberland County hospitals.

"We'd like to get people thinking about their wills. They can designate a bequest for the equipment fund or an endowment, which will always be there to grow the foundation," Swan said.

She explained endowments are very important to the Cumberland Health Care Foundation since the funds are invested and the interest is used to forward the foundation's mission. Currently there is $930,000 in the fund, which is wisely managed, with a percentage of the investment income reinvested to continue the fund's growth.

Thanks to the fund, the foundation has been able to hire the coordinator of volunteer services for the five sites in the Cumberland Health Authority district. It also helps fund the operations od the foundation.

Swan pointed out the equipment fund is equally important to the foundation. " We received an updated list from the health authority and it is fairly extensive, about $500,000 in total," she said.

The equipment needs of the authority include an ENT microscope, a blood gas machine, ventilator, and a portable ultrasound machine, amongst other items. Swan said the list of equipment covers the needs of departments right across the hospital system.