KISHWAUKEE HEALTH FOUNDATION

Geographic areas served: DeKalb County and surrounding areas

Programs: Kishhealth foundation supports the caring mission of kishhealth system's not for profit entities, community cares clinic, dekalb county hospice, kishwaukee community hospital, and valley west community hospital. Kishhealth foundation was established in 1988 as the philanthropic arm of the kishhealth system. It is organized under section 501(c)3 of the internal revenue code, and operates as a not-for-profit charitable organization. Through kishhealth system foundation, donors contribute to quality programs and services at kishwaukee hospital, valley west hospital, kishhealth system hospice, community cares clinic, and the center for the family health. Donations enable support for new equipment, facility expansions, subsidized care and health education that would otherwise not be possible. The health foundation board of directors met in july of 2012 for a board retreat. The goal was to review our accomplishments and determine a plan of action to maximize opportunities to raise funds for the nonprofit entities of kishhealth system. Board leaders collaboratively crafted and recommended a strategic plan for fiscal years 2014 to 2016, which was accepted by the full foundation board in february of 2013. Funds raised by kishhealth system foundation are used to improve the lives of our patients and their families. It may be enhancing the patient experience within the new patient wing at valley west hospital in sandwich, providing assistance to fund cancer and hospice support programs or funding a high-tech patient simulator lab to advance staff skills. Donors, whether they be individuals, community groups or businesses, are the backbone of the health foundation, which raises money to support: kishwaukee hospital, valley west hospital, kishhealth system hospice, kishhealth system center for family health and cancer programs at both hospitals. During the fy2014 year, kishhealth system foundation:*completed of a capital campaign for the new patient wing at valley west, raising more than $1. 4 million and funding more than 10 percent of the total project. *launched the "campaign for care and comfort" to support kishhealth system hospice. A number of receptions have been hosted to educate and inform donors about the work of hospice. The foundation donated proceeds from the 2014 formal affair to hospice. *supported on-the-go mobile recording technology, which enables istan and other human simulators to fully interact during clinical staff trainings outside the kishhealth system simulation lab. Donations were also used to purchase new equipment for the maternity suites departments at both hospitals. *was honored by 100 percent donation participation by key leadership groups, which include the kishhealth system board of directors, the kishhealth system foundation board of directors, senior leaders and foundation staff. *ear-marked an investment of $100,000 for a new electronic medical record system for the cancer program at kishhealth system. *finalized and installed a legacy society wall of honor. The legacy society is a special group of individuals who have notified kishhealth system foundation that one of our nonprofit entities has been included in a donor's estate plans. The wall of honor is housed directly across from the trees of life in kishwaukee hospital. *hosted a free estate planning seminar, "keep your estate from shrinking - while keeping peace in the family" with four other dekalb-county-based nonprofit organizations. Our foundation has been in existence for 25 years. We never take for granted our community's desire to support medical advancements and quality health care through their support.