Greensburg Daily News GREENSBURG — Based on numbers revealed Thursday afternoon at the Annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon of the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County, 2013 was a year of marked growth for the foundation. Foundation director Bryan Robbins opened the event with an overview of 2013’s initiatives and events, including the 2013 Annual Gala, which raised $47,000; the annual “Event ‘Fore’ Caring” golf tournament, which added $15,000; and the 2013 Capital Campaign, which funded Decatur County Memorial Hospital’s (DCMH) new Medical-Surgical unit, which was phase I of a two-phase construction project. That campaign, Robbins announced, gathered funding from 463 donors, raising $1.4 million and recruiting more than 75 volunteers along the way.

Robbins then detailed $50,000 in grant funding allotted to various hospital and community initiatives and programs throughout the previous year, including $10,000 in mammogram assistance; $10,000 for DCMH’s Flu Vaccination Clinic; $5,000 for the EMS MedVaults and Fair Safety; $4,000 for screenings at DCMH’s Healthy Fair; $3,000 for the Spirit of Women Women’s Symposium; and $3,785 for Health fair Screenings. The remainder of that $50,000 also helped fund DCMH’s therapeutic iPads initiative, its dietary laptops program, and its Mommy Expo and impact concussion management program.

The grant money also helped purchase a new Lifepak 12 defibrillator for the hospital. DCMH dietician Holly Pray provided further details about the dietary laptops program, while marketing coordinator Lynzee McDowell spoke about June’s Healthy Fair, and Lisa Oldham of Rehab Services gave an overview of the iPad Project for Rehab Services. The 2014 Annual Report provided dramatic numbers. Foundation revenues in 2013 totaled $196,914.85 versus $169,321.55 in 2012. Expenses incurred in 2013, according to the report – including grants awarded – totaled $132,504.07 versus $146,668.87 in 2012. Net income in 2013 was $64,410.78 versus $22,652.68 in 2012; net assets totaled $1,943,067.11 in 2013 and $731,004.21 in 2012; the hospital collected $169,104.74 in 2013 donations versus $133,383.84 in 2012.

Robbins closed with the formal announcement of the 2014 Hospital Foundation Gala, to be held at 6 p.m., April 11, at Columbus Commons in Columbus. The theme for 2014 will be “South Pacific Sunset.” After the event, Robbins told the Daily News the Foundation’s success in 2013 is largely owed to increasing support and dedication within the community for the work the organization does. “People are realizing more and more how important healthcare is for the community,” Robbins said. Robbins also credited the 2013 Capital Campaign for its efforts in reaching out to and effectively communicating to the community about how important the new Medical-Surgical unit is to the area. “These are very nice facilities – top notch,” Robbins said. “They’re exactly what our community needs, what our community deserves.” DCMH CEO Linda Simmons also credited the 2013 Capital Campaign for the Foundation’s success, adding that the Medical-Surgical unit project provided something concrete for the community to get behind and donate to. Unlike donating for a flu clinic or free mammograms – both of which are crucial, critical initiatives, Simmons stressed – a medical surgical building is something Decatur Countians can drive past every day and see, knowing important medical work is being done there and knowing they helped make it possible with their contributions.