IN THIS ISSUE
Ways to Give
Upcoming Events
Gregory J. Unruh 
Dear Friends of the Franciscan Foundation,

It's that time of year again when friends and family think about the Christmases of the past and plan for the coming holiday with their loved ones in mind
   
As we reflect on this wonderful holiday, we must keep in mind that Christmas is not just any holiday but may be the most important one of the year for some people. It is a time for remembering, a time to share the goodness of your heart with others, and for expressing with words and gifts what someone means to you. It is a chance to make wishes come true and to give something from your heart. It is a chance to reflect on blessings received throughout the year. It is a chance to give a message that will express love and caring to the ones we care about the most.
 
On behalf of the Trustees and staff of the Franciscan Foundation, we thank you for being a blessing to us and wish you a joyous Christmas and health and happiness in the New Year.

With gratitude,
Gregory J. Unruh


 
 
  
Soaring to Great Heights, A Stellar Evening
 
On Saturday, November 14, 2015, the 40th annual, Aquila themed, St. Joseph Medical Center Ball was held to benefit the Franciscan Heart Center with the addition of a new electrophysiology lab at St. Joseph Medical Center.
 
St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC) continues to expand their cardiac care services in the South Sound region.  For patients needing advanced interventional techniques and procedures for atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and other cardiac rhythm management, SJMC offers expert cardiovascular services that are unique to its region.  Only select facilities in Seattle can match the advanced cardiac rhythm procedures that are available at SJMC.  
 
We recently received an enormous wave of support at the Howard S. Wright (HSW) Charity Golf Tournament in September. Hosting a full field of golfers at The Golf Club at Newcastle, HSW Project Executive Chris Martindale presented Dr. Greg Eberhart, Medical Director of CHI Franciscan Cardiovascular Services, with a check for $40,000 to benefit the Ball and its beneficiary.
   
With your help, Aquila was a stellar success. A record breaking $128,000 during the Raise Your Bid Card, live and silent auctions, and multiple sponsorships enabled the Ball to raise over $500,000! As St. Joseph Medical Center continues to expand their cardiac care services in the South Sound region, this new, leading edge electrophysiology Lab is vital to building rhythm management expertise to assure family, friends, and neighbors do not have to leave our community for cardiac care.

   
Chris Martindale, Howard S. Wright Project Executive and Dr. Gregory Eberhart Medical Director, CHI Franciscan Health Cardiology
 
Sharon Snuffin Awarded the
2015 Humanitarian of the Year Award
  
 
For over 34 years the Franciscan Foundation has joined with the Sisters of St. Francis to annually recognize a person or organization that goes above and beyond expectations to serve those in need in our communities. This year, we are pleased to present the 2015 Humanitarian of the Year Award to Sharon Snuffin.
 
Sharon Snuffin, grew up in Gig Harbor, getting her start in business more than 30 years ago as a personal chef cooking for small dinner parties in corporate clients' homes. A decade later, Snuffin's Catering opened its first facility, in 640 square feet of space. Today, Snuffin's Catering has expanded to service clients throughout the South Puget Sound and has been nationally and locally recognized for quality and service.
Sharon is a servant leader who loves to make people happy. She is as tireless in her community involvement as she is in her business. Sharon's commitment to improving the health of our community is demonstrated through her service with a range of boards and organizations, including the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and the Food Advisory Board of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. She served on the board of the Franciscan Foundation for 9 years, and today she continues to chair the Grants Committee. Sharon's support of CHI Franciscan Health has been steadfast, both with time and generous gifts. Sharon co-chaired the capital campaign for St. Anthony in Gig Harbor, where her leadership on the committee helped raise more than $15 million for the hospital. Through her generosity, the garden at St. Anthony Hospital is named the "Daniel Snuffin Healing Garden."

Sharon is passionate about serving those on the margins of our society and currently serves as chair of the board of the Carol Milgard Breast Center in Tacoma; and vice-chair of the board of Emergency Food Network, where she is co-chair of a capital campaign, raising funds to build a new warehouse.
 
Sharon and her late husband, Dan, have two sons, Michael and Nick, both of whom live in the area. When Sharon is not working or serving her community, she enjoys gardening, traveling and reading.
 

 
Greg Unruh, President, Franciscan Foundation presented Sharon Snuffin with the 2015 Humanitarian of the Year Award.
   
 
For nearly two decades, the Franciscan Foundation has honored the mission and values of CHI Franciscan Health by funding projects and programs in and around the communities we serve, and in our hospitals and other health care facilities. Given that CHI Franciscan Health is one of the largest organizations in the South Puget Sound area, we are serious about our commitment to the communities and people we serve. To that end, the Franciscan Foundation focuses its grants in the following areas:
 
  • Health and Human Services, focusing on projects, programs, and events designed to improve the health status of individuals and communities.
  • Community-based programs focusing on projects and programs that benefit the economic health of the areas we serve.
 
In fiscal year 2016 we have awarded nearly $170,000 in grants  
to projects such as:
 
ARK Institute of Learning 
ARK provides individualized assessments to all students who have not received a recent educational evaluation. In some cases, ARK supplements existing assessment data to complete the learning profile. Assessments guide our instruction by providing the basis for a thorough and individualized strategic plan for achieving future learning and academic success.
 
Catholic Community Services Nativity House 
Nativity House is the largest, most comprehensive facility in Pierce County serving low-income and homeless adult men and women. Our goal is to provide for the basic needs of adult individuals experiencing homelessness, and offer concrete pathways to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. The new Nativity House combines the services previously offered by three separate Homeless Adult Services (HAS) programs: Hospitality Kitchen, Nativity House, and Tacoma Avenue Shelter. Services are provided 365 days per year and include hot meals, day shelter, overnight shelter, mental health and chemical dependency assessments and referrals, rapid re-housing, access to mainstream public benefits such as Medicare and SSI, and job training. The new Nativity House also includes a new program, the Nativity House Apartments, which provides 50 units of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless single adults with disabilities. 
 
Step By Step 
Step By Step is a nonprofit that helps at-risk mothers support healthy babies from pregnancy through infancy. It has operated under the radar for 18 years, even as it has built partnerships with South Sound businesses and organizations.

The goals of our services and programs are to help our moms:
  • Deliver a Healthy Baby
  • Embrace Positive Parenting 
  • Establish a Safe Home
We want every pregnant woman to see her pregnancy as a catalyst for positive change. By building on her strengths, she will: choose health, see hope for her future, and give back to her family and community.
 

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article26255941.html#storylink=cpy
 RallyPoint/6
RP/6 was founded by two veterans who make up over 30 years of combined service in the U.S. Army, both experiencing military transition post 9/11. Driven to solve the disconnect between military service and transition to the private sector, they set out to engage their local community in understanding the potential and the opportunity offered in welcoming service members home to their new neighborhoods as valued assets. Together, they believe we can collectively make a difference in communities across the country, offering time, opportunity and resources in support of those who have protected our shared freedoms.
 
RP/6 engages and develops relationships with public and private partners within the military and veteran service provider ecosystem to provide access to resources and services. Utilizing RP/6's tailored concierge approach, connections to resources are provided to develop a clear action plan for the service member, veteran or family member's path forward. We accomplish this mission with a focus on Service, Trust, and Results.
 
Safe Streets - Youth Leading Change 
Youth Leading Change (YLC) is a high school club in Pierce County that encourages youth to spread the message of prevention to their peers. YLC youth focus on general prevention issues in their community. Some of these include: drug use, underage drinking, teen suicide, teen pregnancy, prescription drug abuse and many more. YLC is a youth-led program that gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their communities. YLC members are empowered to take a stand and help educate others about community safety, peer pressure, civic engagement and prevention.

Ways To Give

Do your 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 you do your online shopping!


We thank you for your continued support. Feel free to forward this shopping link to your family and friends: http://www.chifranciscan.org/Support-Franciscan/Franciscan-Bookstore-in-association-with-Amazon-com/

 

Now you can link your Fred Meyer Rewards Cards to

the Franciscan Foundation!

 

Fred Meyer is donating $2.6 million this year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, based on where their customers tell them to give. If you have already linked your card, thank you! If not, here's how the program works:

  • Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Franciscan Foundation at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name or by our non-profit number 83606.
  • Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping Franciscan Foundation earn a donation!
  • You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today.
  • If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store.

 

 
 

 

 

St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary Brunch

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Anthony's Restaurant, Gig Harbor, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

Franciscan Hospice & Palliative Care  

"Angels on Earth" Luncheon

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Hotel Murano, Bicentennial Pavilion, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 

CHI Franciscan Health Winemakers' Dinner

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Hotel Murano, Venice Ballroom, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

 

St. Clare Hospital Golf Tournament

Monday, August 1, 2016

Tacoma Country & Golf Club, 12:30 p.m. Shotgun Start


 

For information on tickets, sponsorship or donating to these exciting events please contact: Shelley Harris, Director of Special Events at  

253.428.8407 or shelleyharris@chifranciscan.org 

 

 
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 CHI Franciscan Health  hospitals, services and programs.  100% of your contribution to the Franciscan Foundation is tax deductible and goes directly to the CHI Franciscan Health facility or program to which it is designated.

Contact Info

Franciscan Foundation

1149 Market Street

Tacoma, Washington 98402-3515

 

888.814.3740   l   fhsfoundation@chifranciscan.org    l   CHIfranciscan.org 

 

CHI Franciscan Health 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.