Cooley Dickinson Surpasses Campaign Goal

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Caring for the Future fundraising campaign has raised $12,261,931, exceeding its $10.8 million goal by $1,461,931.

“This is a campaign and another Cooley Dickinson milestone that we can all be very proud of,” said Carol Smith, acting president and CEO of the endeavor. “Our community, both locally and abroad, has stepped up to help Cooley Dickinson meet and surpass our goal, and we are extremely grateful.”

Campaign co-chair David Scott said the campaign was both tremendously successful but also far-reaching in terms of those who gave of their time, talents, and financial resources, and those who volunteered. He attributed the campaign’s success to the hundreds of campaign donors and volunteers.

“Ultimately, people invest in a campaign because of the outstanding work provided by the nurses, doctors, and staff here,” Scott said, praising the employees who pledged $651,000, surpassing their goal of $500,000.

Another group that received special recognition was the medical staff. “We put our lives in the hands of the Cooley Dickinson physicians,” said William Stapleton, campaign co-chair. “We acknowledge that the physicians have really extended trust with their commitments totaling more than $1,056,000.”

The physicians also exceeded their goal of $850,000.

Along with the hospital staff and physicians, the Auxiliary commitment totaled $638,800.

Stapleton also acknowledged the business community. “We have been overwhelmed by the support from so many individuals and businesses,” he said. “Businesses, organizations, and individuals have been giving to secure not only the success of this campaign, but also the success of Cooley Dickinson Hospital.” Stapleton noted that 245 businesses of all sizes contributed more than $2.2 million.

Gifts from donors living in such places as Switzerland, California, Maine, and New York demonstrate that Cooley Dickinson has a global presence and touches lives beyond the region, he noted, adding that support from the local community shows that those nearby are grateful for the high-quality care they and their loved ones receive at Cooley Dickinson.

“So many people found a way to participate in this campaign in a way that was meaningful to them,” said Diane Dukette, vice president of Development. “And that’s what this campaign has been all about — community members reaching and stretching for the good of our community hospital.”

Gifts ranged from $10 to more than $1.5 million and provided necessary revenue, not only to fund the development of the North Building and Kittredge Surgery Center, but to also make improvements and expand programs including the Midwifery/Childbirth program, the Emergency Department, Radiology, Cardiology, Oncology, and the Pediatric Hospitalist program.

The campaign close also signifies The Kresge Foundation Challenge Grant deadline. “We’ve sailed well past the minimum needed to secure the Kresge Challenge grant,” said Dukette.

In June 2006, CDH received a $900,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation. The foundation challenged CDH and its community to raise $4 million in the remaining 15 months of the hospital’s Caring for the Future campaign. The Kresge challenge, coupled with a $1 million gift from Michael and Lisa Kittredge, propelled Cooley Dickinson to raise its campaign goal from $8.5 to $10.8 million. The funding is expected to arrive in November.

Through its grant-making programs, the Kresge Foundation seeks to builds stronger nonprofit organizations by catalyzing their growth, helping them connect with their stakeholders, and challenging them with grants that leverage greater support.

According to Dukette, Caring for the Future is the largest community-based fundraising campaign in Hampshire County.

The challenge grant award to CDH is the first Kresge Foundation grant in the hospital’s history and represents the single largest grant awarded to a hospital in Western Mass. The grant is the fifth-highest Kresge grant ever awarded to a Massachusetts hospital, trailing only Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital.