Capital Campaign Exceeds Goal

By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department

With unwavering community support and a well-organized campaign of volunteers and staff, Bradford Hospital Foundation’s “Building The Future” Capital Campaign has exceeded its $6 million goal in less than five years, announced Francie Ambuske, the Foundation’s director.

Just over $6.2 million has been committed to financially support Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and its array of healthcare services in the new Outpatient Services Center.

To highlight the fundraising milestone, a celebration for campaign organizers and volunteers was held Thursday in BRMC’s Same-Day Surgery waiting room.

Sandra McKinley, chairman of the Foundation and its Capital Campaign, said, “We raised this amount in less than 4 ½ years. Understand that I use the term ‘we’ loosely because it really was all of you who accomplished this and I can’t begin to express my deepest gratitude.”

The campaign vice chairmen were Mrs. Ambuske; Edwin O. Pecht, Foundation board member and chairman of BRMC’s Board of Directors; Foundation board members Ann Kessel and William Pantuso; and Daniel McCune of BRMC’s Board of Directors. Also, there was a core group of 35 Capital Campaign team members, 20 Business Blitz members and 24 BRMC employee team members.

“All of our volunteers and staff have the biggest hearts in the world. In addition, I will never be able to find enough words to thank everyone for their efforts,” Mrs. McKinley said.

The campaign for BRMC achieved its strategic plan to build the Outpatient Services Center which opened in January of 2007, said Mr. Pecht. The new facility has enabled BRMC to name five Centers of Excellence: The Cancer Care Center; The Heart Center; Allegheny Vein & Vascular; Bradford Recovery Systems; and Surgical Services.

“The Outpatient Services Center brings a modern-day approach to providing state-of-the-art community health services,” Mr. Pecht said, noting BRMC is steeped in a 120-year tradition that’s rooted in commitment to quality healthcare.

The Capital Campaign was launched in 2005 through BRMC’s comprehensive strategic plan to maintain and further healthcare excellence, and to ensure a correct mix of clinical services are available to meet the community’s needs.
BRMC’s strategic plan involved a $15 million campus improvement project that included building a 65,000-square-foot Outpatient Services Center for expanded clinical services, modernizing and doubling the size of the Emergency Department to 17,600 square feet, upgrading Surgical Services, relocating the Upbeat Wellness/Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and SMART Rehab Services, and creating added parking spaces.

Total project financing for BRMC’s campus improvements was provided through $3 million in state economic development funds, $6 million in bond financing, and a $6 million commitment through the Foundation’s Building The Future campaign.

Mrs. McKinley said there were three separate Capital Campaign phases: an advanced giving phase; hospital family giving; and a community campaign.

Through the estates of two sisters, Dorothy Reed and Berdena Coit, with their gifts totaling $1.5 million, donations by others were matched dollar-for-dollar during the Building The Future campaign.

As part of the campaign’s second phase, Bradford Hospital Auxiliary made a $300,000 pledge over five years, its largest pledge in history. The Auxiliary’s pledge served as a dollar-for-dollar match for BRMC family giving. BRMC employees donated over $200,000 to the campaign.

The Capital Campaign then entered its public fundraising phase in the spring of 2008.

“I’m extremely pleased that during this final period the financial commitments continued to come from the community’s support and the hard work of our excellent capital campaign team,” said Mrs. Ambuske.

The Foundation’s director also took a moment to emphasize the long-term volunteer and leadership support of Mrs. McKinley. “Over the years she has shown extraordinary dedication and a deep-felt commitment for quality healthcare and philanthropy,” said Mrs. Ambuske.

Service to the Foundation has been equally strong by George E. Leonhardt, president and CEO of BRMC and the Foundation. “He has always demonstrated strong leadership and belief in philanthropy and the community,” Mrs. Ambuske said.

The Capital Campaign’s success will bring another noteworthy occasion.

Anticipated for next May, “We will be dedicating our new donor wall area which will incorporate a 60-year tradition of giving dating back to 1950. This will also include our new Building The Future Wall and our Naming Opportunity Wall,” Mrs. McKinley said.

The Foundation’s remaining board members are: Thomas Bromeley, secretary/treasurer; Dean Bauer; John Egbert; Frederick Fesenmyer; Richard McDowell, Ph.D.; and Katherine Still.

“We’re on the threshold of a new opportunity and philanthropy will continue to play a very important role. Also, we look forward to the leadership that the integration of Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital will bring,” said Mrs. Ambuske.

The Foundation was established 20 years ago to raise important funds to meet the mission at BRMC. For more information or to make a donation to any appeal, contact the Foundation at 20 School St., call 362-3200 or go online at www.brmc.com.


Shown at Bradford Hospital Foundation’s “Building The Future” Capital Campaign reception at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) on Thursday are (from left): Edward Konwinski, M.D., chairman of the campaign’s Retired Hospital Family Division; Ann Kessel, Foundation board member and the campaign’s vice chairman; Sandra McKinley, chairman of the Foundation and the campaign; and Edwin O. Pecht, Foundation member and chairman of BRMC's Board of Trustees.
(Photo courtesy of BRMC)