LARNED — Pawnee Valley Community Hospital recently announced it has hired Julie Bugner-Smith as its new Foundation Development Coordinator.
Formed in 2012, The Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to advance quality health care in Pawnee County. The PVCH Foundation, in partnership with donors, seeks to meet both immediate and long range health care needs for residents. Private contributions strengthen funding resources and allow the hospital to provide quality programs, services, technologies and education for the citizens it serves.
Bugner-Smith was the executive director at United Way of Central Kansas for seven years and has helped launch UWCK to grow from Barton County to include Pawnee County, increasing the goal each year and the agencies from 19 to 23. She has established community impact programs such as Stuff the Bus, Box of Love, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Literacy Kits for all pre-kindergartners and Reality U. She also established the Pacesetter recognition program. She has brought the United Way of Central Kansas to the forefront of the local communities and with her nine years of hospital experience she is a natural fit for Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation.
“I am thrilled to join the incredible team of PVCH,” Bugner-Smith said. “Their mission statement to provide the best service in the area and their commitment to excellence is to be commended. PVCH is also very community oriented, which fits with my core values. The history of the hospital and what it means to the surrounding communities is a testimony on the sheer determination of what we as individuals can do together.”
“We are fortunate to have Julie on our team to help build relationships in the community and increase funding for the foundation,” said Eric Lybarger, PVCH administrator. “The pressure on small, rural hospitals is significant from a revenue standpoint, so having the foundation as a partner is vital to the success of PVCH. We look forward to Julie continuing her career as a successful fundraiser and helping us enhance health care in Pawnee County.”