Press release
From Mission Health:
(HIGHLANDS, N.C., Feb. 10, 2014) – The Highlands-Cashiers Hospital (HCH) Foundation announced today that an extraordinary gift of $1 million will be contributed by its lead philanthropist, Jane Woodruff, and that it will be matched by a $1 million gift from Mission Health.
Ms. Woodruff stated: “I am very pleased to make this gift to HCH, which has provided compassionate and quality health care to families in our local area for more than three generations. I appreciate Mission’s decision to match my contribution and I believe this new partnership with Mission Health will strengthen our hospital and enhance its capacity to provide exceptional local health care. I hope the community will join me in continuing our strong tradition of philanthropy, so essential to keeping our hospital up-to-date.”
Since HCH came into being more than 60 years ago, philanthropy has been the lifeblood of the hospital. Today’s Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation was created in 1985 as a supporting organization to HCH through a comprehensive program of promoting and administrating charitable contributions. The role of the Foundation will not change under the Mission affiliation, and the Foundation will remain a separate organization with its own local Board of Directors.
“Mission Health very much respects and appreciates Ms. Woodruff’s commitment to the community as manifested through this remarkably generous donation and we value the confidence that she has expressed in the new affiliation between Mission and Highlands-Cashiers,” said Ronald A. Paulus, MD, president and CEO, Mission Health. “Mission shares Ms. Woodruff’s commitment to Highlands-Cashiers and we look forward to working collaboratively to achieve our BIG(GER) Aim together: to get each patient to the desired outcome, first without harm, also without waste and with an exceptional experience for every patient and family. We look forward to partnering with Ms. Woodruff and the Highlands-Cashiers community to serve this important segment of western North Carolina.”
HCH Chairman Charles Sheehan commented: “Jane Woodruff’s generous support of our hospital over the years is largely responsible for the fine facilities we have in place. Jane’s $1 million gift to the Hospital Foundation being announced today is tremendously important. It represents her enthusiastic endorsement of the affiliation with Mission and her recognition that community philanthropy must continue to play a major role in financing the hospital going forward. Mission’s agreement to match Jane’s contribution to the Foundation is a wonderful gesture of support and collaboration. I can’t imagine the affiliation getting off to a better start!”
“I am exceedingly grateful to learn of Jane’s gift,” said Craig James, HCH President and CEO. “As we move forward in our partnership with Mission Health, I anticipate operational improvements that will permit us to rely less on the Foundation for operational support and more for the development of capital projects and new programs and services.”
Earle Mauldin has served as chair of the HCH Foundation since 2009. Mr. Mauldin commented: “The treasured asset of a strong, vibrant community hospital cannot be overstated. The Foundation Board is truly excited that Ms. Woodruff has stepped forward with such outstanding support at this important juncture of our organization and that Mission Health has agreed to match her contribution.”
About Highlands-Cashiers Hospital
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital (HCH) is a not-for-profit community hospital serving Highlands, Cashiers and the surrounding North Carolina mountain communities. Located on Highway 64 between the two towns, HCH offers diagnostic, surgical and acute patient care through onsite professional services or provides a referral to other regional health care systems. Emergency care is physician-staffed 24/7. HCH has 24 beds for acute care services and 80 beds in the Eckerd Living Center, a skilled nursing facility. There are four hospital-owned physician clinics in Highlands and Cashiers. The hospital’s Foundation, with the generous support of the community, provides significant operating resources to the facility and its programs. For more information, please visit www.highlandscashiershospital.org.
About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. Mission Health was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. Mission Health is one of only two medium-sized health systems to receive this recognition in 2012 and 2013, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.
Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates six hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, post-acute care provider CarePartners, and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in Highlands, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 10,600 employees and 2,000 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit mission-health.org.
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