2012 Annual Fund Drive Helps Purchase New Beds for GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center reports that the organization raised $589,502 in 2012, through memorials, the annual fund drive, and special events.

“Last year, charitable donations and grants made so many things possible at GRMC,” says Denise Lamphier, GRMC director of communications and development. “We bought new patient beds. A new digital mammography unit was purchased that allowed us to bring 3D mammography to east central Iowa. Hundreds of patients without health insurance received needed healthcare at the Community Care Clinic. All of these and more were supported through donations. The level of community support is truly extraordinary and we are very grateful.”

GRMC raised $240,177 for 22 new patient beds through the 2012 annual fund drive. In total, $292,886 was raised through the annual fund drive.

“We are really pleased with the new patient beds,” says Penny Tyynismaa, RN, GRMC nurse manager. “They have made a tremendous difference for our patients and for our staff. We are so grateful for the community support that helped us toward our goal.”

The GRMC Auxiliary made a significant gift of $10,000 to purchase a bed for the medical center.

“Our mission is about helping GRMC patients have a positive experience when they need medical care,” says Shannon Reding, GRMC auxiliary chair. “Raising funds for new beds is a patient-centered project that fits right in with our goals.”

For the past few years, the annual fund drive has included special equipment needs, such as an MRI in 2010 and anesthesia machines in 2011. Additionally, the annual fund also supports the Community Care Clinic, bike helmets for area third graders, the GRMC Babies Room and many other annual operating needs.

In addition to fund raising activities, GRMC also supports its operating budget through grants. In 2012, GRMC received nine grants for a total of $612,618. More than $567,000 from one grant went toward the purchase of new digital mammography equipment.

“Upgrading our digital mammography equipment to now include 3D mammography has been excellent,” says Gina Fuller, director, GRMC radiology department. “The images we now capture provide such incredible detail and can be viewed in entirely new ways. We can detect abnormalities at a much earlier stage with this new technology. There are fewer callbacks for patients and greater peace of mind.”

“An annual gift to the medical center benefits patients in the communities GRMC serves,” says George Drake, chair of GRMC’s Foundation Board and a faculty member at Grinnell College. “GRMC’s reputation is built upon the quality of its staff, the services it offers, and its state-of-the-art technology. I believe the level of community investment in GRMC is strong because area residents value having excellent healthcare services close to home.”

Additionally, donors also made gifts to the GRMC endowment fund through the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation. A total of $52,927 has been given to this fund since it was created in 2011 to help support the long-term needs of the medical center.

For additional information about GRMC’s annual fund or development program, contact Lamphier at 641-236-2589 or dlamphier@grmc.us.