Hospital honors foundation executive

The Daily Inter Lake

Carol Blake, the North Valley Hospital Foundation's executive director, recently received North Valley Hospital's 2009 Spirit of Caring award.

"Her leadership has brought her beyond the bedside of patients to a promoter of our community's health needs. And she has been a vital contributor to many positive changes in our area," said Naomi Morrison, North Valley Hospital spokeswoman.

"It's overwhelming that the people in my professional family would choose to honor me in this way. It's a testament that they believe in what I've contributed to an organization that I feel privileged to be a part of," Blake said.

Blake's promotion of teamwork and communication enabled her to take on challenges, create ideas, solve problems and lead when necessary, said North Valley nurse Teri Dunn, who nominated her.

Blake was involved in the fundraising for the construction of North Valley Hospital's current facility. For three years, she was one of several key people who helped raise $6.3 million to offset the construction costs and purchase new equipment.

She is a current board or committee member of more than a dozen organizations including the FVCC Foundation, Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, Montana Nonprofit Association, Montana West Economic Development and Turn the Flathead Pink.

Blake has been a registered nurse since 1969. She had worked as a supervisor, director of nursing, clinic nurse or occupational health nurse until 1992 when she accepted an administrative position at North Valley Hospital to develop a community relations program.

Seven years later, she was asked to begin The North Valley Hospital Foundation.