First National Bank North Platte President John McGhehey (left) presented a $50,000 check January 27, 2016 to Box Butte Health Foundation Director Brooke Shelmadine (second from right). The donation was designated for the BBHF Capital Campaign. “The donation is greatly appreciated,” Ms. Shelmadine said. “The Rehab & Wellness Center is a rapidly expanding service at BBGH. Our demand has simply outgrown our space. Hemingford Cooperative Telephone Company’s generosity is another step to a center that better meets the needs of our patients requiring need rehabilitation services.” Also pictured are BBHF Vice President, David Briggs (second from left) and Emeritus Chief Financial Officer Tracy Jatczak (furthest right). Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Since May 2015, Box Butte Health Foundation (BBHF) has been running a $1.4 million dollar capital campaign for BBGH’s Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. Some substantial donations include a matching grant by the Ethel S. Abbott Foundation for $250,000 that needs to be matched by BBHF by February 2017; and a $50,000 donation by First National Bank North Platte (FNBNP), and a $75,000 donation from the BBGH Auxiliary.
The Ethel S. Abbott Foundation Director Del Lienemann Jr. stated, “The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation looks for opportunities to make grants that will have a significant impact on the community served by the organization receiving the grant.” He added, “Box Butte General Hospital serves a large area of Western Nebraska and we felt that there was a need for more rehabilitation services in the area served by Box Butte General Hospital. The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation felt that the challenge grant would help motivate residents in Western Nebraska to support the project.”
First National Bank North Platte also contributed generously to the project and Bank President John McGhehey stated:
“Part of our mission is to establish and maintain long-term relationships with our customers. This extends to our communities; if our communities are successful, we will be successful. We have eight priorities that we support; stable housing, good health, educated workforce, strong local economies, vibrant neighborhoods, access to culture, sustained environment and community cohesion. This encompasses a wide variety of community organizations and events. Good access to healthcare is important to the success of any community. Box Butte General Hospital has recently made a significant investment in their surgical offerings that will require follow-up rehabilitation. We could see the need to renovate the rehabilitation facilities to support those services. We appreciate the partnership we have developed with BBGH over the years. It is exciting to see them grow and expand the services they provide to Alliance and the surrounding community.”
The mission of FNBNP correlates with BBGH’s mission “to lead and innovate in healthcare delivery and community wellness” because as Mr. McGhehey previously stated, “…if our communities are successful, we will be successful.” This is important to remember when thinking about donating to an organization, local or elsewhere.
BBGH Auxiliary was opened in 1976, and continues to uphold the vision to promote the well-being and advancement of the hospital thorough the $75,000 donation made to the capital campaign. Auxiliary President, Linda Morrison, stated, “It was decided to donate this money to the Rehabilitation and Wellness Center as a lot of our members use this facility, and we believe it is an asset not only to BBGH but also to our community.” The Auxiliary is able to give this generous donation through the continuous source of income provided through the Gift Shop, as well as fundraisers such as the Home Tour and the Quilt/Chest raffle. Ms. Morrison added, “I believe strongly in our auxiliary and the faithful members that volunteer willingly to help support our local hospital.”
While these contributions have greatly helped the renovation and expansion of the Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, the goal amount BBHF aims to collect is $1.4 million from fundraising, and then the hospital will also contribute to the total cost of the renovation and expansion, which is closer to $3.2 million. Every donation is greatly appreciated, and will have a significant impact on the final outcome of the renovation and and our community.
The purpose of the Rehabilitation and Wellness Center is to improve the health and quality of life for Box Butte County residents, now and in years to come. BBHF Director Brooke Shelmadine stated that she believes a new addition and major renovation to the existing facility aligns perfectly with BBGH’s mission “to lead and innovate in healthcare delivery and community wellness.” She added;
“Creating a capital campaign to expand our Wellness Center is a great mechanism to utilize philanthropy to expand our current fitness center programming. BBGH has committed our financial resources to expand our patient treatment space in the Rehabilitation Center as well as the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. The current space just does not lend itself well to the growth we have experienced through listening to our patients who want additional specialty services performed locally.”
The expansion of the Rehabilitation and Wellness Center is an addition that benefits the community greatly, promoting a healthy lifestyle and convenience. The expansion includes an additional 13,000 sq. ft. of space which will consist of: larger, private treatment rooms for all therapies, appropriate waiting room and office space for staff, pediatric and cardiopulmonary rehab space, a designated walking track, multipurpose exercise rooms for a variety of fitness classes, new free-weights room, on-site massage therapist, a front desk and locker rooms, and 24-hour access for all members. The Rehabilitation section of the expansion opened in October 2016, while the Fitness section is estimated to be open February 2017.
This project is the first time since BBGH opened its doors that it has solicited public funding, reinstating how important BBGH believes this project is for the community. Ms. Shelmadine commented, “So far we’ve received positive responses in our lead gift solicitations and grant requests. I’m very excited about our progress.” Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.