News & Events | Union Hospital Foundation

08/01/2008

Published: August 01, 2008 11:23 pm
By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE - Union Hospital employees have pledged more than $1 million as part of a capital campaign to enhance the hospital's $178 million expansion/renovation project.

"The response has been phenomenal, and it's all voluntary," said Jim Bertoli, executive director of the Union Hospital Foundation. On Friday, the hospital had a wrap-up victory celebration to thank employees for their generosity.

The employee campaign resulted in more than 860 gifts. The capital campaign is a project of the Union Hospital Foundation.

The overall goal of the campaign is to raise $8 million. Now, other members of the Union Hospital "family" are being asked to contribute, including physicians and members of hospital boards. The Service League has pledged $250,000 over five years.

Union Hospital hopes to raise $4 million through the "family" portion of the campaign by the end of this month, and a community campaign will be launched in September to raise the other $4 million.

The goal is to conclude the capital campaign by January.

Projects covered by the $8 million capital campaign are not essential but would add value and convenience to the hospital, David Doerr, president and CEO of Union Hospital Health Group, has previously said.

The funding - which is over and above the $178 million - would provided added features to the project including a helicopter landing pad on top of the new hospital building as well as elevated pedestrian walkways connecting the hospital's Professional Office Building, the existing hospital building, the new hospital and the Hux Cancer Center.

It also would help complete certain aspects of the hospital expansion/renovation not included in the $178 million price tag.

The hospital sold $176.5 million in bonds to finance the expansion/renovation project, and the other $1.5 million will be funded through other hospital sources.

The $178 million project includes renovation of about 104,000 square feet of the existing hospital and the addition of a four-story, 500,000-square-foot new facility.

All patient rooms will be private once the entire project is completed.

Certain features being funded through the capital campaign can't be funded through a tax-exempt bond issue, such as pedestrian walkways, said Lorrie Heber, director of marketing and public relations for Union Hospital and Union Hospital Health Group.

As part of Friday's celebration, employees were able to sign a beam primed white that will become a permanent part of the hospital addition. They also were able to tour a mock patient room mirroring what the new ones will be like once the expansion/renovation is complete. They were asked to give feedback.

"Today, we just want to recognize the employees and say thanks for everything they've done," Doerr said.

The project is on schedule, he said. "We want to be up and going by January 2010," he said.

Among employees who contributed to the campaign was Renne Pugh, who works in medical records and is studying to become a registered nurse. She believes a donation is an investment in her future. "I want to help all I can," she said.

Ann Smith, a registered nurse and chairwoman of the employee portion of the fund drive, told employees their $1 million-plus in pledges "is an awesome donation toward the Union Hospital campaign."

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.