The central Kansas community is invited to attend a reception in observance of the 10th anniversary of the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation.
The celebration is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 6 at Glory Be, 623 Broadway, Larned.
The agenda includes a “special presentation” and the Golden Ticket drawing at 3 p.m. For a $100 donation, ticket holders have a 1 in 100 chance of winning $4,000 during this fundraiser. Winners will be announced at the reception; call 620-285-8632 for more information.
“We encourage everyone to come to our celebration,” said Julie Bugner Smith, Foundation director. “This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Foundation and its vital role at the hospital and throughout the community.”
Overall, the Foundation’s mission is to advance quality healthcare in Pawnee County.
“We take this mission to heart and the results can be seen at the hospital every day,” Bugner Smith said. “We have met and, in many cases, exceeded expectations as we provide state-of-the-art equipment and valuable services at the hospital and in the community.”
For example, “community support for the Foundation has resulted in a 3D mammography machine, as well as MRI and CT equipment. This high-quality technology benefits our patients, their families and the community as a whole.”
In addition, two school-related programs have allowed the Foundation to reach out to young people from kindergarten through high school.
The Kindergarten U program has been successful by “educating them about the workings of the hospital,” Bugner Smith said. “The children become familiar with the surroundings and discover they can be comfortable in the hospital environment if they come here with an illness or injury.”
Community Conversations is another successful project, the Foundation director commented. This program provides speakers to the middle school and high school, with topics such as distracted driving and the importance of mental health.
“We are always grateful for the opportunity to meet with young people,” Bugner Smith said. “And we appreciate the positive feedback we hear from the schools.”
Other Foundation projects in the works include the Associate Campaign in March, golf tournament in June and Octoberfest, which is set for Oct. 22.
“Each fundraiser is important because we must grow financially to improve services,” Bugner Smith said. “Our goal is to continue to prosper and find innovative ways to enhance local healthcare.
“Also, we want to strengthen our partnership with local schools to bring to the forefront the issues that should be addressed. The Foundation can be a shining example of what hard work and fortitude mean for local healthcare during these difficult times of change in our country.”
Bugner Smith noted the Foundation wouldn’t exist without hospital associates, volunteers, the Larned Area Chamber of Commerce, and local and area residents.
She also emphasized the community should be grateful to the Pawnee County Commissioners, which established the Foundation as a vehicle to contribute to local healthcare.
“And, of course, our board of trustees is the backbone of our organization,” Bugner Smith said. “We could not have achieved all our success without them.”
Trustees are President Laura Smith, Vice President Meribeth Busenbark, Secretary Jim Delaney, Treasurer Janis Yeager, Jon Skelton, Vicki Spinia, Kyle Beckwith, Lewis Young and Melanie Urban.
President Laura Smith said she “would like to personally invite the citizens of our community to join us in celebrating our 10th anniversary. Without your continued support we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the many projects for our community hospital and, in turn, the community members it serves.”
