Hospital begins $2 million campaign

North Valley Hospital Foundation kicked off its Legacy of Caring campaign recently.

Focused on building North Valley Hospital’s planned giving and endowment programs, the campaign aims to build dollars for future expansion of health care services. 

The campaign was announced to a group of North Valley Hospital Foundation board members, donors and community representatives at a private event in Whitefish.

“Our goal is to raise $2 million within five years, but we are striving to meet that goal in just two years,” said Karin Olsen, executive director of the foundation. “We hope to take advantage of the Montana Endowment Tax Credit.”

This allows individual and corporation income tax credits for qualifying gifts to Montana permanent endowments. Scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2013, the credit gives donors an incentive to take advantage of this benefit for themselves and the hospital foundation while it is still available.

This is the first campaign to raise money for the hospital since the capital campaign launched in 2004 to support the construction of the new hospital. The hospital opened in its new location in March 2007.

North Valley Hospital Foundation board members Jake Heckathorn and Luther Campbell serve as co-chairmen of the Legacy of Caring campaign. 

Together they will spearhead raising private money to help the hospital respond to changing demographics and economic conditions and maintain affordable health care in the communities served by North Valley Hospital and its outreach clinics. 

Philanthropy allows the hospital, a nonprofit organization, to serve those who cannot afford health care, as well as build local programs and services that would not otherwise be possible. 

Endowment funds help offset declining reimbursements and provide funding into perpetuity through the interest earned on those funds.

For more information on the Legacy of Caring campaign or creative ways to contribute or the North Valley Hospital Foundation, contact Olsen at 406-863-3560 or kolsen@nvhosp.org.