Jones Regional Medical Center

Your Family Needs You Capital Campaign

Jones Regional Medical Center's "Your Family Needs You" Campaign Nears $3 Million Mark

Jones Regional Medical Center has received nearly $3 million in private donations in its effort to raise funds for its "Your Family Needs You" campaign to build a new 46,851-square-foot hospital.

The $12.8-million facility will be located near the intersection of Highways 64 and 151 in Anamosa. Although half of Iowa's critical access hospitals receive an average $700,000 annual tax subsidy, Jones Regional Medical Center receives no tax funding and there will be no tax levy or bonds to fund the new facility.

"There's no drain whatsoever on the taxpayers," says Jay Willems of Anamosa, Jones Regional board member and campaign co-chair. "It's so important for the public to support the new hospital facility philanthropically to ensure Jones Regional Medical Center can continue to provide our families and future generations quality, accessible healthcare close to home."

The current hospital is outdated and landlocked, making remodeling expensive and expansion impossible. It's also difficult to reach the existing facility, often costing precious minutes in an emergency. The new hospital location in the heart of Jones County is ideally located, and the new modern facility will be efficiently designed to keep pace with the changing medical environment and growing population in the region.

"The people we serve repeatedly tell us they are extremely pleased with the medical expertise, technical training and customer service they receive from the Jones Regional medical family, but also note a modern facility would enhance their healthcare experience," says Sean Williams, Jones Regional Medical Center's CEO. "And, I'm pleased and grateful to say that the Jones Regional Medical Center family was among the first to give and have 100-percent participation in giving."

The Jones Regional family includes: the boards of directors for Jones Regional Medical Center, Jones Regional Foundation, Anamosa Community Hospital and Anamosa Area Ambulance; the hospital auxiliary; and all hospital employees. Every individual within these organizations contributed to the campaign resulting in $178,800 from the four boards combined, $78,180 from staff and $25,000 from the auxiliary.

Leading individual donations to date include: a $920,000 gift from Eloise Sutherland Helgens, originally from Scotch Grove; a $150,000 gift from Reynolds A. Jensen and Dorothy Downing Jensen of Anamosa; an anonymous $100,000 gift; and a $150,000 in-kind gift from Weber Stone/Stone City Quarries in Stone City. "These gifts really gave our capital campaign a major boost-we are so grateful to these people," says Charlie Becker of Monticello, Jones Regional Foundation board member and campaign co-chair. "Now's the time for all Jones County community members to come together and donate what they can to help build a modern medical facility with cutting-edge technology, a state-of-the-art emergency room and enough operating and examination rooms to meet increased demand for outpatient services."

Gifts can be made in cash or securities and can include bequests, real estate, life insurance and personal property. Many area employers offer a matching gift program. Contributors of $1,000 or more will be recognized for their generosity on the donor's wall in the new hospital's lobby. Many of the rooms and areas of the new medical facility may be named for an individual or organization, or in honor or memory of someone, for gift amounts ranging from $10,000 to $1 million.

"Many in this community know firsthand that having a hospital close by not only is convenient and saves time-it saves lives," continues Becker. Jones Regional's emergency department saves an average of 11 lives each month and the hospital serves 3,500 patients monthly. The hospital has 94 physicians and healthcare professionals on its medical staff and an annual $3.96 million economic impact. Becker says, "Jones Regional Medical Center also provides a significant economic stimulus to our community."

Jones Regional Medical Center broke ground on the new facility spring 2008 and the construction project will further enhance the local economy through the creation of new jobs and increased revenues. Completion is slated for fall 2009. In addition to campaign funds, the project will be financed through the sale of its existing facility, Jones Regional's current reserves and by borrowing the remaining amount, depending on funds raised.

Becker and Willems appreciate the dedication of the fundraising steering committee members: Jim Burdick, Monticello; Becky Cooper, Monticello; Jill Darrow, Anamosa; Donna Edwards, Anamosa; Vic Hamre, Anamosa; Cecilia Hatcher, Anamosa; Dr. Kirk Kilburg, Anamosa; Anna Manternach, Monticello; Dorothy Postel, Anamosa; Audrey Savage, Monticello; Gary Weers, Anamosa; Dr. Mike Weston, Anamosa; and Winnie Williams, Monticello. They also want to recognize honorary campaign co-chairs Dr. John Bailey, Anamosa, and the late Louis Morf, Monticello.

To donate to the campaign, or for more information about Jones Regional Medical Center, please call the foundation office at 319-462-6135 exts. 6118 or 6326 or Donate Online.