Kossuth Regional Health Center Kicks off Capital Campaign

Campaign organizers and lead donors gathered at Kossuth Regional Health Center on December 5 to kickoff the hospital’s capital campaign “Transforming Healthcare, Building for the Future.”
 
“We are pleased to announce that we are already more than half way to our goal of $1.5 million,” said hospital administrator Scott Curtis.  “We had a handful of lead donors that committed generous gifts that have helped us get to this point, and we are still in the process of contacting many other major supporters.  We are also thrilled with the success of our employee campaign, where we raised more than double our goal. The support of our staff is a wonderful illustration of how important this project is to our facility.”

The KRHC employees contributed gifts and pledges totaling $290,000.  Several lead donors were highlighted during the kickoff event, including Pharmacists Mutual Companies and Foundation ($150,000), the KRHC Auxiliary ($100,000), Iowa State Bank ($100,000) and a bequest from Bud and Katy Anderson ($100,000).  To date nearly $900,000 has been raised towards the goal.

The campaign is being co-chaired by Kirk Hayes, Tom Larson and Pat Reding, all of Algona, with Wes Bartlett of Algona serving as the honorary chair. Other members of the campaign steering committee are: Dr. Burt Bottjen of Algona, Kristie Brown of Algona, Sharon Goche of Bancroft, Steve Heyer of Titonka, Carey Kemna of Algona, Darin Massner of West Bend, Shane Meschke of Algona and Stuart Simonson of Whittemore. Conley Nelson of Algona is the major gifts chair.

The campaign is part of a $13.5 million project that will build a three-story addition onto the east side of the hospital.  The additional space will allow for private inpatient rooms, each equipped with a full private bath.  The addition will also bring about improvements on the first floor of the hospital, restructuring the dining area, kitchen and materials management area.

Kossuth Regional Health Center operates a 24-bed critical access hospital, two physician clinics, home care, hospice, and public health nursing agencies.  KRHC employs approximately 205 individuals and maintains Master Affiliation and Professional Services Agreements with Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.  Although many areas of the hospital and clinic have been remodeled over the years, the inpatient floor has not seen much change since it was first built in 1949.

“I have witnessed tremendous growth in our services, which will only increase as the baby boom generation ages,” said KRHC family physician Dr. Burt Bottjen.  “The new addition and other improvements will help us continue to provide exceptional healthcare for our patients.”

KRHC will work with general contractor Woodruff Construction of Fort Dodge.  Curtis anticipates the project will break ground early this spring.

The campaign kickoff marked the start of the public phase of the campaign, and Foundation Director Nancy Grandgenett-Besch encouraged people to consider creative ways to give to the project.

 “People can make cash gifts or pledges, gifts of grain, stock, life insurance or explore utilizing IRA rollover funds,” said Nancy Grandgenett-Besch, Foundation Director.

For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, contact Nancy Grandgenett-Besch at 515.295.4582 or grandgen@mercyhealth.com.