Winter 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Foundation Updates
Community Outreach
Ways to Give
Upcoming Events
FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM

 

Advanced Medicine,
 Trusted Care  

 

Dianna Kielian
Dianna Kielian, Foundation Interim President

Greetings

 

As we near the end of 2011, our hearts are full of gratitude for the many friends and associates who have supported our healing ministry. Your generous hearts allow us to continue making a difference in the lives of our patients, families and employees.

 

It has been an exciting year for the Foundation and Franciscan Health System. A highpoint for 2011 was the opening of the new doors of St. Elizabeth Hospital, on February 2. It is our privilege to continue the legacy of the excellent care provided by Enumclaw Regional Hospital for over six decades.

 

As we close 2011, and look forward to 2012, allow me to offer this reflection:

 

Work of Christmas Begins

 

"When the song of the angels is stilled, 

when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart...
 

And to radiate the Light of Christ, 

every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

-- Howard Thurman, adapted

 

On behalf of the Trustees and staff of the Franciscan Foundation, we thank you for helping us make 2011 radiant with the work of Christmas.

 

Peace and all good to each of you.

 

Dianna Kielian

 

 

St. Joseph Medical Center Ball Raises Record Funds

 

On November 12, almost 700 guests attended the sold out 36th Annual St. Joseph Medical Center Ball. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of donors, event sponsors and Ball guests, over half a million dollars was raised!

 

All funds will support expansion and consolidation of Cardiothoracic Services at St. Joseph Medical Center. To accommodate growing needs, all cardiac specialty services will be located in a 32-bed unit that will provide a continuum of care for cardiac patients, from ICU to discharge. State-of-the-art equipment will be purchased, including specialty beds, patient monitoring equipment, patient lifts, and items for an improved patient and family environment.SJMC 2011 Ball

 

The highly enjoyable Ball featured silent and live auctions; a multi-course dinner; and evening entertainment by jazz musician Darren Motamedy, the a capella singing group The Coats, and champion Irish step dancers and musicians -The Gothard Sisters. Guests danced until 12:30 to the popular music of NiteCrew.

 

Well-deserved recognition and gratitude for this spectacular event is due to the Ball Chairs, Dr. Baiya and Mrs. Deborah Krishnadasan. Dr. Baiya states, "This year's Ball was an exciting adventure for Deborah and me. We truly enjoyed the evening and the preparation for it. In fact, we were sad when the event was over. However, it is alleviated by the friends we made and the enormous financial success for St. Joseph Medical Center and Cardiothoracic Services. We are deeply grateful to the Ball Committee and volunteers, the Franciscan Foundation Special Events Team, and the generosity of the sponsors and guests."

 

For information on tickets, sponsorships or donating auction items to the St. Joseph Medical Center Ball next year, or other Franciscan Foundation special events, please contact Shelley Harris, Special Events Director at the Franciscan Foundation, at (253) 428-8407 or [email protected].

Two Pierce County Dentists receive the

2011 St. Francis Humanitarian of the Year Award

 

Two Pierce County dentists who volunteer their professional services to help underserved community members, Donald Swanson, DDS and Albert Bird, DDS received the 2011 St. Francis Humanitarian of the Year Award at a special ceremony in October. Named for St. Francis of Assisi, the annual award is sponsored by the Franciscan Foundation and the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. It honors individuals who show extraordinary commitment to serving the poor, peacemaking, diversity and/or humility.

 

St. Francis of Assisi Dr. Swanson and his staff volunteer with Medical Teams International, and have provided dental care to disadvantaged students at Lakeview Hope Academy in Lakewood for 10 years.

 

A family dentist who has practiced in Tacoma for over 30 years, Dr. Bird was the first dentist to volunteer his time for the Lakewood Community Dental Van. He has been a faithful volunteer in the program for 12 years.

 

The Community Dental Van was established in 1999 by the Community Health Council at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, a part of Franciscan Health System. The van visits the three Lakewood elementary schools with the highest poverty rates once a month, and also visits St. Clare Hospital monthly to serve individuals who cannot afford dental care. The dental van's interior resembles a regular dentist's office, where a volunteer dentist performs exams, cleanings and other basic dental care.

 

In addition to Franciscan and St. Clare Hospital, Community Dental Van sponsors include Medical Teams International, Clover Park Technical College, and the Clover Park School District.

 

The Community Dental Van program accepts donations to provide dental care to additional uninsured children and adults. If you would like to contribute, please contact the Franciscan Foundation at (253) 428-8411, or give online at www.foundation.fhshealth.org.

 Community Outreach
 

McCarver Students Have a Fun-Filled Afternoon At Franciscan Polar Plaza

About 60 students from McCarver Elementary School in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma enjoyed an afternoon of holiday fun with free ice skating and hot chocolate on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Franciscan Polar Plaza in downtown Tacoma.

Franciscan Health System, a sponsor of the holiday ice rink, provided the experience for the fourth- and fifth-grade students from 12 noon until 2 p.m. The youngsters who participate were chosen for the outing by their teachers and school administrators, based on criteria such as good class attendance.

Franciscan Polar PlazaThe boys and girls were taken by bus to and from the Franciscan Polar Plaza. In addition to a sack lunch, they received ice skates at no charge, as well as complimentary cups of hot chocolate. "The Polar Plaza is creating opportunities for families and friends to come together for fun and fellowship during the holidays," said Syd Bersante, president of St. Joseph Medical Center, "Such experiences are building blocks for quality of life and healthy communities."

McCarver Elementary School, which has one of the highest rates of poverty and homelessness in the Tacoma School District, is only three blocks from the Franciscan hospital. Through the years, employees at the hospital have "adopted" the school by supporting drives to collect food, school supplies and clothing that benefit students and their families.

The Franciscan Polar Plaza, located at Tollefson Plaza at Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street, is open to the public daily through Jan. 2, 2012. General admission is $8 and skate rental is $2r.

Other sponsors of the Franciscan Polar Plaza include the Tacoma Art Museum, Columbia Bank and the Titus-Will automotive dealership.

Ways To Give

Each Gift We Give Brings Us Great Joy 

 

Po Kearney lives in Lakewood with her husband Larry, and has actively volunteered at St. Clare Hospital since 2003. She has clocked in 3,300 volunteer hours in her eight years of volunteering, and currently works three days a week as a mail courier. Po feels very proud to do something to help her community and country, expressing that "I feel I owe something to this country and this is my pay-back."

 

Po Kearney
Mrs. Po Kearney
St. Clare Hospital Volunteer

Po grew up in Suwan, South Korea and lived through the Korean War, during which she had little or nothing to eat most days. When Americans arrived at the nearby Air Force base, they gave her family a meal every day and she could earn money washing laundry and working in the mess hall. After the war, her family received building materials to rebuild their burned down house. Po was 25 when she met her husband Larry, an American soldier on his first day in Korea. He visited her every night for a year, taking a 45-minute bus ride back and forth, until he asked her to marry him. They married and moved to the U.S., where Larry was stationed at Fort Lewis.

 

In addition to Po's volunteer work, she and Larry have supported St. Clare Hospital for many years with annual donations. "St. Clare Hospital is a part of the community in which we live. We trust the people at St. Clare to utilize our gifts in a way that is most beneficial in the areas needed most. We receive as much, in happiness and inner peace, as those who benefit from our gifts."

 

Po has had many family members treated at St. Clare Hospital, and has been a patient there herself. Severe flu symptoms in the middle of the night once sent Po to the St. Clare emergency room, but it turned out she had pneumonia. Po credits her speedy recovery to the excellent treatment she received, saying "The staff at St. Clare Hospital treated me so well - they saved my life."

 

The Kearney's recently took out a gift annuity to benefit the areas of greatest need at Franciscan Health System. "Each gift we give brings us great joy in the knowledge that it helps make it possible for patients to receive the treatment and care necessary to survive, and go on to recovery with God's help."

 

For information about donating to Franciscan Health System, please call the Franciscan Foundation (253) 428-8411, or give online at www.foundation.fhshealth.org.

 

 

Do your Holiday shopping at Amazon.com and benefit the Franciscan Foundation!

 

Purchase your gifts or gift cards on Amazon.com through our website and a portion of your purchases will benefit the Franciscan Foundation. 

 

It's simple. Visit our website and click on the Amazon.com logo located on the right side of the page. When you start your Amazon.com visit by entering via our website, you get the same great selection and prices, and Amazon.com will automatically donate a portion of your purchases to the Franciscan Foundation. There's no cost to you. Just use the link located on our website or click on the Amazon logo below and they will handle the rest. Amazon

If you already have an Amazon account, just access it through our website so they know to credit the Franciscan Foundation.

Every month all year long, the Foundation receives anywhere from $100 to $1,000 (depending on the month) to help support the greatest needs throughout our system. The more that is purchased, the more we receive. So, if you're an online shopper, this is an easy way to support our mission. Think Franciscan First when do your Back to School shopping!


We thank you for your continued support. Feel free to forward this shopping link to your family and friends: http://www.fhshealth.org/Ways_Give.aspx?id=3422&menu_id=322


 

 

St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary Brunch

Saturday, February 4, 2012

 

Franciscan Hospice "Angels on Earth" Luncheon

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

 

St. Francis Hospital Gala

Saturday, May 5, 2012

 

Brett Erickson "Play With Heart" Golf Classic

Friday, June 1, 2012

 

St. Clare Hospital Golf Tournament

Monday, August 13, 2012

 

St. Francis Hospital Golf Tournament

Thursday, September 6, 2012

 

St. Joseph Medical Center Ball

Saturday, November 3, 2012

 

For information on tickets, sponsorships or donating auction items to these exciting events, please call:

 

Shelley Harris at 253-428-8407 or email .

Darci Bernard at 253-428-8409 or email.
Ellen Dooley at 253-428-8457 or email.
  
Get Involved
Franciscan Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation recognized under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation receives and administers gifts made on behalf of all Franciscan Health System hospitals, services and programs. 
100% of your contribution to the Franciscan Foundation is tax deductible and goes directly to the Franciscan Health System facility or program to which it is designated.

Contact Info

Franciscan Foundation

1149 Market Street
 PO Box 1502

Tacoma, Washington 98401-1502 

 

888.814.3740   l   [email protected]    l   www.fhshealth.org

 

Franciscan Health System is part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The faith-based system operates in 19 states and includes 73 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; two community health services organizations; and home health agencies.