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GREENFIELD – At a kick-off celebration held at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland on April 5 to mark the public launch of their capital campaign, Franklin Medical Center officials announced a goal of $5.5million to help fund the Second Century projects now underway at the Greenfield hospital.
These projects, whose total cost will amount to $16.3 million, include complete renovation of the Emergency and Radiology Departments, and renovations of the inpatient Medical-Surgical and Intensive Care Units that will upgrade all rooms to private and semi-private.
“It’s the largest community campaign Franklin County has ever had,” said Robbie Cohn, campaign co-chair, “and we are already well on our way. Volunteers and staff have been working for the past year to secure several large gifts and to complete the employee and medical staff portions of the campaign.”
An anonymous matching gift of $1 million was set to inspire personal giving from the campaign cabinet, Franklin Medical Center’s leadership team, medical staff campaign tri-chairs, the Baystate Health board of trustees and leadership team, and employee campaign leaders.
“This match gave us a valuable jumpstart,” said Cohn, “and helped us set an ambitious pace for the campaign.”
Speaking to an audience of volunteers and donors, he reported that a total of $4million had been raised to date.
“The people of Franklin County know what a valuable resource they have in their community hospital,” noted campaign co-chair, Mary Cohn, “and the Second Century Campaign is giving all of us the opportunity to express our appreciation.”
The Cohns are leading the Second Century Campaign Cabinet, whose membership includes Betty and Charles Barker, honorary chairs; Peter and Phebe Elliott, Advance Gifts co-chairs; Tim and Elise Rice, Leadership Gifts co-chairs; Ed Tombs, Major Gifts chair; Drs. Tom Echeverria, Jaques Blanchet, and Stephen Fox, Medical Staff tri-chairs; Mary Cohn and Beth Fox, Awareness chairs; Joseph Poirier, Leadership Gifts; Becky Caplice, treasurer; Judy Fusonie, Board of Organized Work; Princy Stotz, Baystate Health Board of Trustees; Sandra Sayers, director of Development; Stephen Tanne, executive director of Baystate Health Foundation; Dr. Holly Allen; Dr. Jeffrey Blomstedt; Susan LaScala; Michael and Pam Skinner.
Businesses and organizations that have contributed to the campaign’s success to date include pace-setting donors, Greenfield Savings Bank, $500,000; the Board of Organized Work (Franklin Medical Center’s auxiliary), $250,000; Channing Bete Company, $100,000; and Rice Family Foundation, $100,000. Other major business contributors include Cohn & Company Real Estate Agency, Greenfield Co-operative Bank, and MassOne Insurance Agency.
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