JACKSON, Wyo. — When St. John’s Health CEO Dr. Paul Beaupré found 10 ventilators from a private supplier, St. John’s Health Foundation found the funds.
The Board voted on Thursday to expand the scope of the COVID-19 Response Fund they launched on March 19 to include equipment and other needs required to treat COVID-19 patients.
“The Foundation Board was fortunate to have the ability to quickly pass a motion to approve the transfer of funds to enable the hospital to sign the purchase order,” stated Bill Best, St. John’s Health Foundation Board Chair. St. John’s Health previously had a total of twelve ventilators. This action by the Foundation will bring the total up to 22 ventilators.
The Board voted to seed the COVID-19 Response Fund with an initial contribution of $50,000 from the Foundation’s unrestricted funds. To date, the community has contributed more than $60,000.
Thus far, the fund has supported more than 30 hospital staff members who have applied for financial support. Most often the help was needed as a result of loss of work by a spouse.
With the expanded scope of the Response Fund, the Foundation Board was also able to transfer $188,887 to purchase the 10 ventilators immediately.
Since then, local resident Tom Katis has come forward to pledge $100,000 if the Foundation is able to secure donors for the other $90,000. This effort will allow the foundation to commit the funds previously transferred this week to go directly to the newly expanded COVID-19 fund for other critical needs as they arise.
Second, last week, the Foundation Board voted to transfer funds to purchase two Ultraviolet Disinfecting Machines at a cost of $193,000 to help combat contamination. Through an act of astonishing generosity, however, Molly and Wayne Hughes, Friends of the Foundation, learned of the effort from John Goettler and fast-tracked a check from their family’s foundation for the entire amount.
St John’s Foundation Board invites the community to join them in their support of St John’s Health with contributions to the newly expanded fund.
“The SJHF COVID-19 Response Fund fund-raising campaign is now officially underway – and its urgency and its objectives cannot be overstated” stated John Goettler, President of the St. John’s Health Foundation. “The St. John’s Health staff are truly first responders during this pandemic. Apart from their professional needs, they require us to understand and support their essential professional needs: the right tools, protection, and equipment so that they can perform as safely and effectively as possible—and save lives.”
If you would like to make a financial contribution in support of the COVID-19 Employee Response Fund, please make a donation here.
