News

Contact: Lauren Brendel, M.S.

Bozeman, MT [February 17, 2020]—At a private gathering of more than 100 top donors, volunteer leaders, and health system executives in the still-under-construction new main lobby of Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman Health and Bozeman Health Foundation announced that the Caring Forward Campaign, which ran from April of 2018 through December of 2019, received a record-breaking $18,203,895 in gifts and pledges from 2,756 individuals, foundations or corporate partners, exceeding its $15,000,000 goal by more than 21%.

The Caring Forward Campaign offered donors the opportunity to support four major Bozeman Health Priorities:

• enhancing critical and intensive care for adults and neonates
• expanding community outreach and charity care programs
• investing in innovation in cancer and cardiac care
• helping to grow Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center

Gifts and pledges received were well-balanced across these priorities, but leaders at the organizations were surprised by the level of support provided to its mission-driven outreach and charity care programs. This mission-focused pillar of the campaign inspired the largest single gift in Bozeman Health’s history—$2,000,000 from the Kendeda Fund—with contributions designated for this purpose helping Bozeman Health to support unprecedented levels of charity care for those in need, nearly double the impact of outreach programs such as Healthcare Connections, and establish new and essential programs in behavioral health.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity and trust provided to Bozeman Health by our donors,” said Robyn Erlenbush, foundation board member and campaign co-chair. “We took a few risks as we launched Caring Forward, including inviting support for programs that help our community’s vulnerable, and our friends and neighbors rallied behind us in ways we never could have imagined. We’re humbled and truly grateful.”

The impact of giving

Contributions provided to Bozeman Health Foundation during Caring Forward have funded the new adult intensive care unit on the second floor of the new care tower, the region’s first-ever neonatal intensive care unit to be located in the women’s and children’s tower, the expansion of the Cancer Center’s infusion services into a new annex, the establishment of the Care Cottage radiation oncology patient housing program at Bozeman Health Hillcrest Senior Living—Birchwood, the addition of Integrated Behavioral Health in primary care clinics, significant enhancements and expansion of the popular Healthcare Connections mobile health program, numerous investments at Big Sky Medical Center, and much more.

“From our earliest beginnings, Bozeman Health’s deep and trust-based connections to the communities we serve have been a part of our culture and all that’s made us so strong,” said John Hill, President and CEO of Bozeman Health. “Once again, our generous donors have placed their faith in us, supported us in our vision for a bold future and stepped up to partner with us to help provide the best, most innovative and compassionate care possible. We couldn’t be more pleased, and we’re eager to continue demonstrating the transformative impact of their philanthropy.”

Those attending the event Monday evening were among the first to set foot in the new main lobby of the three-story care tower, which is expected to be completed in fall 2020. The main floor includes a new main entry, sanctuary for spiritual care and meditation, and additional space anticipated to be used for clinical and educational services. The second floor will house the new 20 bed intensive and progressive care unit, and the third floor will remain open to provide for future patient care needs.

Bozeman Health’s Caring Forward Campaign: By the Numbers

• Public Launch Event at the groundbreaking for the new Care Tower: April 11, 2018
• On-time conclusion: December 31, 2019
• Campaign Goal: $15,000,000
• Total Raised: $18,203,895
• Amount received from 115 physicians: $1,234,502
• Amount received from Bozeman Health employees: $555,327
• Number of gifts of $100,000 or more: 28
• Total number of donors: 2,756
• Number of leadership volunteers involved in Caring Forward: 35

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