MDNews - Greater Kansas

serves on several A AO committees including the Oculoplastics ONE Editor's Choice committee. PLEDGES TO VIA CHRISTI HOSPITAL ST. JOSEPH RENOVATION HIT $3 MILLION MARK Via Christi Philanthropy has reached its $3 million Project Renewal capital campaign fundraising goal — thanks to recent gifts that brought its pledge total to $2.7 million. That's the amount Via Christi had to raise by June 30 to receive a $300,000 challenge grant from the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa. "Reaching our $3 million goal was a team effort — one that included gifts from board members and senior lead - ers, physicians, associates, volunteers, foundations, businesses, contractors working on the project, and individuals with a heart for people struggling with mental health issues," says Monica Coen, Chief Philanthropy Officer for Via Christi Health. "We could not have made it without ever y - one's support and generosity." The projects are part of Project Renewal, a more than $50 million renovation of Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph, which when complete next January will convert the hospital to all-private rooms and consolidate and expand Via Christi's behavioral health services on the St. Joseph campus. "Project Renewal will enhance the environment of care for the thousands of patients who come to St. Joseph seeking family care," says Sam Antonios, MD, Via Christi hospitals' Chief Medical Officer and a Project Renewal donor. The $3 million raised will go toward construction of a psychiatric observation unit that will open later this year and a patient activity center, for which construction will be complete by late 2019. Via Christi Philanthropy's fundraising kicked off more than a year ago with a $300,000 donation from the Lattner Family Foundation. In addition to the Lattner and Mabee foundation gifts, other donors of gifts ranging from $75,000 to $300,000 include: • Walmart/Sam's Club • Sunderland Foundation • Via Christi Volunteers Partners in Caring • Children's Miracle Network Hospitals • INTRUST Bank • JE Dunn Construction • Anesthesia Consulting Services • Credit Union of America • Randy and Alice Simon family • Gerry and Priscilla O'Shaughnessy • Conco Construction • Isaac Family Institute of Charity "Via Christi's commitment to expanding behavioral health services is important to the quality of life for our community," says Lyndon Wells, who chairs the Via Christi Health Board of Directors and has played a key role in helping raise funds and community support for Project Renewal. "I appreciate the members of the St. Joseph Renewal Vision Committee and the nearly 100 donors who contributed to help us reach the $3 million goal." In addition to the capital goal, $236,000 has been donated to date for behavioral health research, programming and community collaboration. Meanwhile, fundraising efforts to enhance integrated care at Via Christi and the Wichita community is ongoing. ■ 1 8 1 8❱❱❱❱❱ H O S P I TA L R O U N D S

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