New Walkway Brick Campaign

By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department

Bradford Hospital Foundation officials will offer a first-time opportunity for individuals or groups to be part of the history of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) by launching the new Walkway Brick Campaign during The Blitz 2009 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday inside Northwest Savings Bank at 33 Main St.

"The Walkway Brick Campaign is a wonderful way to proudly present your business or family name to honor a loved one with their name etched onto a brick," explains Stacy Williams, BRMC’s director of Volunteer Services and Annual Giving. Bricks purchased will be placed in specially designed square patterns in front of the hospital’s new Outpatient Services Center, located off the North Bennett Street access.

"It’s a unique and personalized way to give," Mrs. Williams states. "By purchasing a brick for $100, you would be supporting BRMC along with having your business or individual name etched onto the brick and displayed on our hospital campus walkways. On this brick, you’ll also get three lines with 15 characters on each line to honor someone." In addition to bricks with the words-only option, businesses, clubs and organizations, sports teams and even favorite pets can be depicted via stock artwork or logos.

"For $150, you can add a logo of your choice on a brick," Mrs. Williams notes. Companies can have their logos added or donors can make a stock design selection. Each brick also provides a 15-character line. Officials note that all gifts are tax-deductible. During Tuesday’s Blitz 2009 at Northwest Savings Bank, information and forms will also be available for the Brick Walk Campaign and three other appeals:

-- The Building The Future capital campaign which began in 2005 with a
$6 million goal to financially support BRMC’s campus improvements that
have included the Outpatient Services Center, the expanded and redesigned Emergency Department, and upgrades to Surgical Services;

-- First Breath, a fundraising effort started by a Bradford Area High School student to purchase a ventilator for BRMC. This appeal has reached 50 percent of its goal; and

-- Memorial and Named Funds, which provide various ways to remember
special individuals with a memorial or honorary gift.

"These four appeals support BRMC in so many ways as the hospital continues to expand in meeting the healthcare needs of our community," Mrs. Williams says. "For those who donate to the Building The Future campaign, there will be a dollar-for-dollar match," Mrs. Williams notes. Through the estates of two sisters, Dorothy Reed and Berdena Coit, their gifts totaling nearly $1.5 million dollars will match anyone’s donation to the capital campaign.

Meanwhile, the First Breath campaign’s goal is to purchase a ventilator for BRMC that will be able to serve 1,200 patients of all ages over a five-year period, she says.

"The Foundation’s Memorial and Named Funds are a variety of funds that help support the many services of BRMC. The supported services include, but are not limited to, The Cancer Care Center at BRMC, The Heart Center at BRMC, The Pavilion at BRMC, and McKean County VNA & Hospice," explains Mrs. Williams. BRMC’s Cancer Care Center is a regional clinical network member of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The Blitz Team will have materials available on Blitz Day 2009 at Northwest Savings Bank.

"The Blitz will give community members a chance make donations or get more information about these four appeals," Mrs. Williams says. However, the Blitz is not the only time to support these four appeals. For more information or to make a donation to any of these appeals, contact the Foundation at 20 School St., call 362-3200 or go online at www.brmc.com.

Pictured, David Monroe of Full Circle Complementary Therapy and Stacy Williams, Bradford Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) director of Volunteer Services and Annual Giving, display one of the bricks that can be purchased through the newly launched Walkway Brick Campaign. Companies and individuals who buy the bricks will have them placed outside BRMC’s main entrance.
(Photo courtesy of BRMC)