Together, we will grow up.

Posts Tagged ‘Riverwood Foundation’

FLOE International supports hospital expansion campaign

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Wayne and Janelle Floe with children Easton and Ramsi

Donations to Better Together campaign matched to $12,500

Thanks to Wayne and Janelle Floe, McGregor area residents now have an even greater reason to give to the Better Together Capital Campaign.FLOE International is challenging the McGregor area community with a matching gift of $12,500. Floe says, “Our family, and the team at FLOE International, are proud to support the hospital expansion at Riverwood so that our friends, family, coworkers and neighbors have the opportunity to receive first-class health care in the community where we live.”

Riverwood Foundation Manger Katie Nelson comments: “Riverwood Foundation is pleased with the level of support the McGregor area community has already provided and is excited about how the Floe donation will leverage new gifts.”

Shirley Callahan-Winegar, local resident and Riverwood Foundation board member, says, “The McGregor area has already contributed a generous $91,144 toward the capital campaign. Riverwood Foundation has set a goal of raising $125,000 from the McGregor area. This new challenge from FLOE means that gifts from McGregor area residents to the campaign will be doubled. We are so close. We hope this new match will encourage new gifts to the campaign and push us closer to our $2.2 million goal!”

Recent McGregor area gifts to the campaign have come from the Horseshoe Lake Association, Dean Masonry and Concrete, and the American Legion Auxiliary. All gifts to Riverwood Foundation for the Better Together Capital Campaign will be doubled until the $12,500 match is met.

A sub-committee of the volunteer campaign steering committee has been working hard to get the word out in the McGregor area. Members include Shirley Callahan-Winegar, Linda Farah, Robert Lewis, Art Orosco, Marty Ryan and Elsa Sorenson.

For more information on the Better Together campaign, contact the Foundation office at (218) 927-5158 or knelson2@riverwoodhealthcare.org

Foundation closing in on challenge grant goal

Friday, June 15th, 2012

Riverwood Gala Committee points to progress toward Otto Bremer Foundation matching grant goal of $300,000.

There’s just $11,945 left to raise for Riverwood Foundation to secure a $300,000 challenge grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation.

In 2011, Riverwood Foundation set out to raise $2.2 million through its Better Together Capital Campaign to support Riverwood Healthcare Center’s $21 million expansion project that offers greater privacy and safety for patients and their families. To support the project, the Otto Bremer Foundation put forth a challenge to the community in the form of a generous $300,000 matching grant, of which Riverwood Foundation has raised $288,555.

Riverwood Foundation Interim Director Jodie Johnson says: “We are thrilled with the level of support we’ve received so far from our volunteers and donors. We are hopeful that folks who have not yet made a contribution to the campaign will now rise to the challenge. Time is running short to get your gift doubled with a dollar-for-dollar match by the Otto Bremer Foundation as we expect that we’ll reach the $300,000 goal before the end of June.”

To date, donations to the Better Together campaign total nearly $1.6 million with another $600,000 that must be raised to reach the $2.2 million goal by the end of 2012.

2012 Riverwood Gala

Planning is already underway for the Foundation’s premier annual fundraising event and is being organized by a dedicated group of volunteer committee members.

This year’s gala is set for October 13th at the 40 Club Convention Center. Proceeds from the 2012 black-tie affair will support Riverwood’s hospital expansion project. In 2011, more than $57,000 was raised toward the Better Together campaign.

Johnson says: “We are looking forward to another spectacular evening to raise funds to serve the healthcare needs of area residents at Riverwood Healthcare Center.”

For more information about the expansion project and to make a tax-deductible gift, visit www.riverwoodhealthcare.com/bettertogether or call the Foundation office at (218) 927-5554.

Healing Garden ceremony pays tribute

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

May 2012 Healing Garden ceremony at Riverwood Healthcare

A few rain drops fell during the ceremony but this didn’t keep almost 50 people away from the annual Healing Garden Memorial Ceremony on May 27th to honor and commemorate loved ones.

The short program included an invocation by Bill Fox, a reading of honors and memorials by Riverwood Foundation interim chairman Matthew Hill and two outstanding vocal performances by Miss Aitkin, Emily Lundgren.

The Foundation holds a ceremony each year to commemorate those who have been honored through a brick, living flowers, tree or other memorial. The Healing Garden was created in 2003 to provide a place of peace and reflection for patients, their families, Riverwood employees and all members of the community.

To find out more about the Garden or order a memorial for your loved one, contact Katie Nelson at (218) 927-5158 or knelson2@riverwoodhealthcare.org

Susan G. Komen for the Cure grant to Foundation

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Grant will support Cuyuna Riverwood Breast Health Alliance

 Riverwood Foundation has received an $80,000 grant from the Minnesota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The award supports breast health education and awareness, community and patient education, screening and advanced diagnostics and individualized care through the Cuyuna Riverwood Breast Health Alliance (BHA) partnership between Riverwood Healthcare Center and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Mission Manager, Denise Blumberg-Tendle shared her enthusiasm for the project: “We are very excited about this grant and the work that can be achieved in our continued efforts to move ever closer to fulfilling the promise of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.”

BHA will use the grant monies for breast health awareness, community and patient education, and one-on-one consultation for breast cancer patients. The impact of this program is significant in that it will improve the delivery of breast health care services both in terms of quality and the availability of care from screening to diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

Jodie Johnson, interim executive director for Riverwood Foundation, says: “Susan G. Komen has been a key partner in promoting innovative programs to address breast health. We are pleased that they are once again investing in breast health services to ensure quality care for women in this region of Minnesota.”

The Cuyuna Riverwood Breast Health Alliance is an innovative partnership between neighboring healthcare organizations Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. In addition to one-on-one support from breast health care coordinators, the alliance offers expert screening and diagnostic care and expanded treatment options through its collaboration with the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute.

Riverwood Foundation was one of just 19 organizations statewide to receive funding from the Minnesota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For more information on the local Breast Health Alliance, go to www.BreastHealthAlliance.org

Aitkin Women of Today contribute to capital campaign

Monday, March 26th, 2012

The Aitkin Women of Today have generously pledged $500 to Riverwood Foundation for the Better Together capital campaign. Pictured from left to right are Better Together campaign volunteer Bernie Roscoe, Aitkin Chapter Women of Today President Suzanne LaLond, and Interim Foundation Director Jodie Johnson.

2011 Riverwood Annual Report

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Riverwood Healthcare Center’s 2011 Riverwood Annual Report gives an update on initiatives to enhance quality of care, including several patient testimonials, and an overview of financials and donor support through Riverwood Foundation.

The report’s theme–“Together we will”—represents all the individuals and organizations that come together to bring the best in healthcare to the Northern Minnesota communities Riverwood serves.

Our key accomplishments for 2011 include:

  • Building for the future. We launched a $21 million hospital expansion and renovation project that is designed to enhance local healthcare services for years to come.
  • Focusing on quality of care.  We achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission, a designation that reflects high quality and safety standards for patients.
  • Collaborating to offer the best care locally. We continue to partner with other health systems, which helps ensure access to advanced specialty care close to home.

 “In the past year, we made great strides in improving what is already an excellent rural health system,” says Riverwood CEO Michael Hagen. “This is all made possible by an outstanding team effort from our medical staff and healthcare professionals, donors, board members and volunteers.”

For a printed copy of the 2011 Annual Report, contact Riverwood at pr@riverwoodhealthcare.org or (218) 927-5589.

New Foundation officers, board members, interim director

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Loren Larson

Melissa Magnuson

Jodie Johnson

Riverwood Foundation has elected a new slate of officers for 2012-2013 that includes Jodie Johnson, chair; Matthew Hill, vice chair; Terry Butenhoff, secretary, and Mike Steffen, treasurer. Melissa Magnuson, Riverwood diabetes educator, has also joined the Foundation board.  Also, Garrison community member Loren Larson joined the board in 2011 and has been appointed to the finance committee.

Michael Paulbeck served as the Foundation chair from 2010 through 2011 with support from Jodie Johnson as the vice chair, Tricia Martin as secretary, and Matthew Hill as treasurer.

 

Jodie Johnson will serve as Riverwood Foundation’s interim executive director and capital campaign director, assisting John Slettom until he returns to the Foundation full time as the executive director. 

Johnson has been an active member of the Foundation board and has served in several capacities including on the finance committee and Better Together Capital Campaign Steering Committee. She and her family are Riverwood Foundation donors and founders of the Zachary Johnson Kids with Cancer Fund, a fund within Riverwood Foundation that provides grants to children with cancer and their families in Aitkin and Crow Wing County. Johnson also chaired the Gala committee for seven consecutive years.

“We are pleased to have Jodie’s assistance during this interim period,” says Riverwood CEO Michael Hagen. “Since 2003, she has excelled in a number of volunteer leadership capacities, helping to raise significant dollars to move the mission of Riverwood Healthcare Center forward. Her dedication and knowledge are assets to our organization.”

Riverwood Foundation recently celebrated a major milestone of surpassing $1.5 million in donations toward its goal of $2.2 million for the Better Together Capital Campaign.

 “I truly believe in the mission of the Riverwood Foundation and will do everything I can to see to the success of the every-day business of the foundation and the continued success of the Better Together Capital Campaign,” Johnson said. “I look forward to helping where I am needed in this exciting time at Riverwood Foundation and Riverwood Healthcare Center.”

Jodie Johnson can be reached at the Foundation office at (218) 927-5554 or JJohnson2@riverwoodhealthcare.org

Donation for breast cancer patients

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Riverwood Foundation presented a check for $1,000 to Ruth’s Free Wig Closet on behalf of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The dollars will be used to provide free wigs and beauty consultation to women undergoing treatment for breast cancer in Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Crow Wing Counties. For more information on Ruth’s Free Wig Closet, visit RuthsFreeWigCloset.org