> Home > About Us > News/Events

For immediate release:  April 12, 2007 (Clyde, NC)

HRMC Foundation Promotes Community Philanthropy

After two years of research and strategic planning, The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation is entering a new era of promoting healthcare philanthropy for Haywood County's citizens. In 2007, The HRMC Foundation Board of Trustees, a 501c (3) charitable corporation, is launching its Caring for Our Community 5-year campaign to raise $7 million for three initiatives:

• 1) The New Surgery Center Building Project: Raise $4 million for a $15 million Capital Project
• 2) The Hospice & End of Life Care Center: Raise $2 million for the $3 million Capital Project
• 3) The Unrestricted Annual Fund: Raise $1 million for an endowment fund to address ongoing needs for equipment updates, expansion of programs and services and scholarships.

The HRMC Foundation also remains open to opportunities that enhance the hospital's ability to provide quality healthcare for members of our community. One such initiative underway is a collaborative with the Haywood County Health Department to establish a fund that will provide mammograms to women who otherwise could not afford the exam.

The findings of the research and planning phase, have helped The Foundation to establish priorities and develop a plan to expand fundraising capabilities. Donors are motivated for different reasons in their giving, whether it be new technology, health-career scholarships, helping a volunteer to serve a hospice patient, or support for a major capital project. In the end, all donations are used for one purpose - to support the hospital.

"The Caring for Our Community campaign provides the unique opportunity for contributors to designate gifts to a specific area of interest. We are in the early quiet phase and it is exciting to see several of our Foundation Board members so inspired to meet the challenge," said Robin Tindall, director of HRMC's Foundation and Corporate Communications.

The first level of fundraising activity began in February with the HRMC employee campaign. HRMC employees responded with record support, raising over $70,000 in one-year pledges and $217,000 in five-year commitments.

In addition, the first lead challenge gift of $250,000 ($50,000 for five years) has been committed by Foundation Board Chair, Phyllis Prevost. "These are great indicators for a successful campaign. Our next big task will be to find a match for this extraordinarily generous gift. Ms. Prevost has been unbelievably generous to this community, demonstrating exemplary philanthropic support for healthcare," said Tindall.

On May 15th plans for the Caring for Our Community Campaign will be announced at the HRMC Foundation Annual Giving Recognition celebration. Throughout the summer, the Foundation will be working diligently to identify charitable support for HRMC. Gift support at all levels will help to meet the goal...from golf & sponsor participation at the 16th annual golf gala in September to gifts from individuals and grants from private, public and corporate foundations. "The Foundation is thankful for every gift from every donor because each contribution is a step toward ensuring quality healthcare for the people in our area," said Tindall. "We are fortunate to have such a generous community."

Tindall shared that the Foundation has also learned that HRMC is similar to other hospitals in Western North Carolina and across the nation in experiencing an increasing reliance on philanthropy to sustain quality healthcare. The primary reasons are universal: an increasing level of charity care; decreasing reimbursements and the rising costs of providing care. For more information about the HRMC Foundation, please call 828-454-9340.