Media Releases

St. Joseph's Community Foundation Awards Grants

West Bend, WI (Oct. 1, 2008) — Affirming its commitment to Washington County, Froedtert & Community Health is awarding three capital grants that will support different health initiatives within the county. The grants will be awarded through the newly restructured St. Joseph’s Community Foundation.

“Froedtert & Community Health is providing new funds to the Foundation as a demonstration of our commitment to the Washington County community,” said Bill Petasnick, president and CEO of Froedtert & Community Health. “All of the Foundation’s resources — both past and future — will remain right here in Washington County for the betterment of this community. There will be additional contributions, including support for a community scholarship fund that has been a part of the West Bend Clinic tradition, as well as local health initiatives.”

Initial capital grants being awarded include:

$50,000 to Kewaskum High School to fund new equipment for a fitness center that will also be made available to members of the community;
$28,000 to the West Bend School District to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in local schools; and
$35,594 to the West Bend Police Department to purchase 26 AEDs for placement in all mobile law enforcement units and the police department’s booking room.

“We are honored and thankful for receiving this grant that will help provide our students and members of the community access to a new and expanded fitness center that will play an important role in promoting good health habits and, ultimately, a healthier community,” said Jason Piittmann, athletic director at Kewaskum High School.

Leadership from both the West Bend School District and Police Department see significant benefits from having AEDs available in their respective organizations.

“The addition of AEDs to our schools will make them safer places for students, staff and members of the community using our buildings,” said Mark Maley, chairman of the West Bend Public Schools Foundation, Inc.

Said Kenneth Meuler, West Bend Police Chief, “Having these devices to immediately treat cardiac arrest will save lives and allow our officers to be more responsive when such incidents occur.”

Additional capital grants funded by Froedtert & Community Health and supporting community health initiatives will be awarded in the coming months. The grants will support initiatives and organizations that will have a long-term impact on promoting a healthier community.

An area of interest to Froedtert & Community Health and the St. Joseph’s Community Foundation is supporting efforts that address obesity and lack of physical activity among Washington County residents, which are listed as priorities in the 2006-2010 Washington County Community Health Improvement Plan.

“Our affiliation with Froedtert & Community Health creates significant new opportunities for the Foundation and for our community,” said Ric Leitheiser, chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The grants we are announcing today and the newly focused structure for the Foundation represent an exciting beginning with a collaborative new partner that is committed to improving overall community health.”

The restructured St. Joseph’s Community Foundation will consist of three primary funds with distinct sources and purposes: 1) St. Joseph’s Hospital Fund, which will carry on the work of the former SynergyHealth Foundation by raising funds to support capital projects and programs at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the West Bend Clinic and the Kathy Hospice; 2) Healthy Community Fund, which will support projects that have a long-term health impact on the broader community; and 3) West Bend Clinic Scholarship Fund, an annual scholarship fund that helps finance a college education for seniors from local high schools.

“The St. Joseph’s Hospital Fund will continue to provide a way for Washington County residents to support the development of new and improved programs at the Hospital, the Kathy Hospice and Clinic,” said Michael Laird, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The Healthy Community Fund will receive a significant capital contribution stemming from the resources arising out of the affiliation and ongoing collaboration between Froedtert & Community Health, St. Joseph’s Hospital and West Bend Clinic. Investment earnings from these funds will be used to support community health initiatives within the greater Washington County area through grants to nonprofit organizations in the community. More information about the grants will be provided this fall.

Organizations interested in applying for grants from the Healthy Community Fund should contact Karen Amoroso, executive director of the Foundation, at 262 306-7828 or at kamoroso@stjosephswb.com.

The West Bend Clinic Scholarship Fund was created with proceeds from the West Bend Clinic Foundation, which was dissolved as a result of the affiliation, and with additional support from Froedtert & Community Health. This permanent fund will be used to finance an enhanced level of scholarships for local high school graduates.

“We are very pleased that our affiliation with Froedtert & Community Health will allow us to continue and expand our efforts to support local college students through our scholarship program,” said Dr. Todd Hammer, a physician at the West Bend Clinic.

Date: Oct. 1, 2008