Mission Accomplished: ER Campaign Achieves $10 Million Goal

The largest capital campaign in Munson Healthcare history reached its goal of $10 million — two months ahead of schedule — thanks to overwhelming response to the project.

“It’s really a great thrill,” said Tom McIntyre, a member of the Munson Healthcare Board of Directors. “This just speaks volumes about the confidence that people have in the hospital and the community’s willingness to support extremely high quality health care.”

McIntyre headed the capital campaign along with Munson Medical Center Board Trustee Bill Anderson and retired state Senator George McManus.

The Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation undertook the $10 million capital campaign after Munson physicians identified a new ER as the hospital’s top need.

“Even though raising $10 million was a significant accomplishment, fundraising was secondary to the more important goal of increasing community awareness about Munson’s need for philanthropic support,” Anderson said.

“The financial climate in health care has changed,” he added. “Through this campaign, we were able to deliver the message that a higher level of philanthropy is needed and will continue to play a prominent role in securing quality health care services for the residents of northern Michigan. The enthusiastic response from our communities bodes well for our future.”

“I believed all along we were going to reach our goal,” McIntyre said. “What was surprising was accomplishing it ahead of schedule. It was a very well-executed campaign with a recognized need in the community.”

McIntyre praised the efforts of the Foundation staff – including retiring President Jay Zrimec, Foundation Manager Ruth Bloomer, and interim President Bob Wick. “They all played key roles and kept everyone on track,” McIntyre said. “Jay was really the campaign architect — his approach was very well thought out and was clearly based on years of experience and relationship building. He is retiring at a career high.”

The campaign received gifts from all members of the Munson Healthcare Board of Directors, Munson Medical Center Board of Trustees, Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation Board of Trustees, and Munson administration. Munson’s Medical Staff also contributed to the campaign in record numbers.

“Our physicians strongly supported this campaign because they know first-hand how urgent the need is,” said Dale Blum, MD, Medical Director of Emergency Services.

One year from now, the new state-of-the-art ER is expected to open to the public, greatly enhancing emergency and trauma care in northern Michigan. The ER will occupy the ground floor of a $35 million, four-story structure currently under construction on the Munson Medical Center campus.

“There is recognition that the Emergency Room at Munson is used by people who live in communities all across the region,” said Ed Ness, President and CEO of Munson Medical Center. “This is everyone’s Emergency Room. We are very pleased with the wide base of support demonstrated during this campaign.”

Support for this landmark project came from donors across the health care system. One of the first major pledges came from the Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital Foundation. Donations from the Leelanau Memorial Health Center (LMHC) Board of Trustees and Volunteers in late October helped put the campaign over the top.

“The importance of ER services to our community members cannot be underestimated,” said Isabelle Firestone, an LMHC and a Regional Foundation board member. “It is a service that is essential for every resident of every age, and meets the intent of our fundraising efforts — to guarantee access to excellent health care services for our local community members.”

Munson Healthcare had never attempted to raise so much money in a single campaign. Zrimec said he was not intimidated by the $10 million figure. “In order to energize people, you have to do something beyond what they think they can do.”

The Foundation staff was keenly focused for the duration of the campaign, he said. “We lived it for 18 months. It was the last thing you thought about before going home at night and the first thing you thought about in the morning —‘who do we talk to today?’”

“The challenge was to keep all of the enthusiasm and energy alive. Having a great team meant that there were more people doing the heavy lifting — it was spread out so it didn’t feel so heavy.”

Construction of the new ER began in September 2004 and is on schedule for completion in January 2007.

The new ER will triple the amount of space available for emergency care. It will feature rooms that are designed to maximize patient comfort, safety, and confidentiality. The number of monitored beds will double — from 21 to 42.

Other improvements will include bedside registration technology to expedite treatment, additional trauma and cardiac treatment rooms, and improved facilities for mental health and substance abuse patients, and the victims of sexual assault.

Designated space will enhance the treatment of patients with contagious diseases, and those who have been exposed to chemical or biological agents.

Construction crews will continue to work in the coming weeks to finish the exterior of the four-story structure.

How the $10 million came together:
Category	Amount	% of Total
Major Gifts	$2.5 million	(24.5%)
Estates, Wills, Trusts	$2.4 million	(24%)
Munson Family*	$2 million	(20%)
Grants from Foundations	$1.6 million	(16%)
Corporations	$910,500	(9%)
Community Gifts	$647,000	(6.5%)
*Includes employees, physicians, volunteers, administrators, and Munson Medical Center, Munson Healthcare, and Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation Boards.