The Impact of Donors
St. Clair Health has from its very beginnings counted on the support of the people, organizations, and businesses of this community. Six decades ago, area residents saw a critical need for local, quality health care, and their grassroots fundraising campaigns resulted in the opening of St. Clair Hospital in 1954.
Nearly 70 years later, this legacy of giving continues. And, through building and strengthening these ties, we are able to continually identify and meet regional health care needs.
The St. Clair Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the health and well-being of our patients by providing grants for technology, equipment, and services to enhance the patient experience. “Our goal is to support excellence in patient care by investing in facilities and programs that reflect the expert care our clinicians and employees provide,” explains Melissa Marion, Director of Development & Government Relations at St. Clair Health.
What Do Donations Go Toward?
There are many ways to give and personalize a gift to St. Clair. The money that is donated to the Foundation is used to support various needs of the health system. Gifts may be designated to support a specific area of need or left as unrestricted.
Unrestricted donations are put toward the hospital’s areas of greatest need, meaning that money is not allocated for anything specific and can be used for whatever the priority is now or in the near future. “Donors like to give to this fund because it makes an immediate impact toward improving the health of our community,” says Melissa.
On the other hand, restricted funds can only be used for specific purposes as designated by the donor. For example, our Oncology Fund supports the St. Clair Hospital Cancer Center. It is used to provide our staff with the resources necessary to develop new programs or services as well as to provide patients comfort or enhanced care. Every new oncology patient is provided a cancer care package, which contains specific items that will help patients throughout the span of their treatment. These packages are often brought to treatment appointments and include items like blankets, socks, activity books, nutritional shakes, lotion, and more.
The St. Clair Health Foundation gratefully accepts donations that support various areas of need, including:
- Breast Care Fund: For patient care, equipment, and staff education associated with the St. Clair Hospital Breast Care Center
- Courtesy Van Service: For our free, need-based service available to local residents who require rides to and from the Hospital and its affiliate locations
- Family Birth Center: For facilities, equipment, and programs of the Family Birth Center (Maternity Unit) and Women and Children Services
- Oncology Fund: For cancer care and education programs, including free arts-based wellness classes, as well as a care package for each new cancer patient
- Patient Assistance: For home care services, prescription drugs, medical equipment, and other medically necessary items for eligible patients
- Psychiatry and Mental Health Services Fund: For critical programs and services that offer a safe and compassionate treatment environment where patients can understand their illness and begin the recovery process
The Impact of Giving
St. Clair Health is a regional healthcare system, which means the money you donate is going directly toward helping your family, friends, and neighbors. You get the chance to contribute to the care the members of your community receive. When our patients receive things like cancer care packages or patient assistance, it not only helps them but also shows them that people care about them. That can be incredibly helpful and impactful when you are going through treatment.
Those who work in the Foundation get to see, often first hand, how people are impacted by the generosity of the community. “I witnessed a patient be brought to tears by the art that was bought for her from our Gallery One wall. I have read so many notes that talk about life saving experiences that the donor or a loved one had experienced at our Hospital. I see the joy on the kids’ faces from local high schools when presenting me with a check for our Breast Care Center that they raised during Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” says Erica Koenig, Foundation Coordinator at St. Clair Health. That is all to say that donations to the Foundation—no matter the amount, no matter the department the funds benefit—can really impact lives.
Grateful Patients
The work the Foundation does would not be possible without our community. Melissa shares, “The people within this community are extremely generous. They give when they are able to and we are incredibly grateful for that.”
The upcoming holiday season is always a special time to connect with family and friends, show gratitude for what you’re most thankful for, and to plan for the upcoming year. “Good health is often something that people are grateful for, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have that,” says Melissa. “Throughout this season, the St. Clair Health Foundation is working to raise money so we can continue to provide compassionate, high-quality healthcare for the communities we serve.”
Expert care from people who care is more than our tagline—it’s the relentless drive we bring to carry out our mission every single day. If a caregiver made a difference or went the extra mile for you or your loved one during your stay with us, please consider making a gift in their honor.
If you are interested in making a donation or learning more about the St. Clair Health Foundation please click here. The Foundation can also be contacted by calling 412.942.2465.