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Fund provides healthcare
tomorrow by giving today
When the Roseau Area
Hospital and Homes
Health Care Fund was
created, the hope was
that residents of Roseau
County would welcome the
opportunity to give back
to their communities by
providing financial
support for activities
related to health care.
Not only have they
responded favorably, but
they have responded
quickly and generously.
Established in 2004, the
fund has grown to almost
$260,000 through cash
gifts, memorials, and
the will bequest of
Maggi Adams.
"Any dollar amount is
welcomed, and how it is
applied is entirely up
to the giver," says
Milly Prachar, RAHH
Senior Leader and a
driving force behind the
fund.
Through the RAHH Health
Care Fund, donors can
contribute to project
funds where an
investment is used to
cover short-term
activities. They also
can give to an endowment
fund, or both.
"The lasting benefit of
an endowment fund is
that the invested
dollars work without end
to improve the overall
health of Roseau
County," says Prachar.
"Because the gifts we
receive stay in the
Health Care Fund rather
than being spent, the
gift lives on through
the interest earnings it
continues to generate."
Benefits to local
healthcare
As a permanent
financial resource, the
Health Care Fund
provides grants to help
local healthcare
projects become a
reality.
"The success of the
Health Care Fund rests
entirely on the
residents, friends, and
visitors of Roseau
County and the
surrounding area,"
Prachar says.
"Your investment
provides the ability to
support local health
care programs, projects
and activities."
The investments
themselves are held by
the Northwest Minnesota
Foundation, a 501(c)3
charitable public
foundation in Bemidji,
while a local advisory
committee of Roseau
County residents manages
the fund.
In April 2006, the
Northwest Minnesota
Foundation presented the
Circle of Vision Award
to those who contributed
more than $100,000
through the foundation.
Keith Okeson,
President/CEO of Roseau
Area Hospital and Homes
accepted the Circle of
Vision Award on behalf
of the late Maggi Adams
for her generous
donation to the Health
Care Fund.
Members of the RAHH
Health Care Fund
advisory committee are
Chairman Roger Helgeson,
Vice Chair Trish Allen,
Jane Evans, Shirley
Fugleberg, Bob Foley
Sr., Roger Hockstedler,
Bill Wagner, and David
Wensloff.
Activities of the Health
Care Fund are
coordinated by Prachar
and Deb Haugen.
"The Health Care Fund
presents tremendous
opportunities for giving
to the program of your
choice or giving to help
where it is needed
most," Prachar says.
Working with Caryl
Turnow, the local
Northwest Minnesota
Foundation
representative, the
advisory committee works
to promote the fund and
recommend financial
distributions for
present and future
needs.
 A gift can be designated
to several priority
areas including nursing
homes, home health care,
hospice, hospital,
emergency medical
services, medical
equipment, or any health
related area that is of
personal interest.
There are many ways to
give including cash
gifts, honorarium or
memorial gifts, gifts of
property, or planned
(deferred) gifts.
Appropriate recognition
is made for all
donations, and donations
are tax deductible.
"There is a
misconception that local
taxes pay for healthcare
and so there is no
reason to give to the
fund, but that is not
the case. As a nonprofit
corporation, Roseau Area
Hospital and Homes does
not rely on taxes for
financial support,"
Haugen says.
The idea also goes much
deeper than that.
"This is about taking
ownership in the future
of healthcare in Roseau
County," says Prachar.
"It's about making
lasting improvement to
the community for our
children and our
children’s children."
For more information or
to make a contribution
to the Health Care Fund,
contact Milly Prachar or
Deb Haugen at
218-463-2500. |
