Affinity Health System - News Release

St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation awards $160,000 in grants

01 / 23 / 2006

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For more information contact:
Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)

APPLETON, Wis. – The St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation has awarded more than $160,000 in grants that support Affinity Health System programs and services, as well as non-profit organizations throughout the Fox Cities.

The St. Elizabeth Hospital Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation unit received $16,500 for three new treadmills and an elliptical cross-training machine for the new Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Gym that is included in the St. Elizabeth Hospital renovation project.

“We are seeing an increase in seniors seeking our services, and as a result we need additional training equipment with the most safety features available,” said Rosanne Brandau, coordinator of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. “Additionally, our new gym will be 40 percent larger than our current space, and the additional equipment is greatly needed.”

Other grants awarded to Affinity Health System programs:

The St. Elizabeth Hospital Case Management/Social Services department received funding for resources to cover patient financial gaps between discharge and acquiring resources in the community.
Funding was awarded to the Franciscan Care & Rehabilitation Center gift shop for renovations to better accommodate people in wheelchairs.
St. Elizabeth Hospital Behavioral Health was given funding for the replacement of educational and socialization materials, for a kiln and supplies for occupational therapy; and for program materials for its program, “Cooking With Kids.”
The Strong for Life program at Franciscan Care & Rehabilitation Center received a grant to add treadmills to its curriculum.
Calumet Medical Center will receive funding for the 2006 Safety Day Camp held annually in Chilton.
The Spiritual Services department at Franciscan Care & Rehabilitation Center received funds to replace and update the chapel’s worn sacred vessels and liturgical items.
Pediatric rehabilitation will receive funding to purchase harness and power-lift equipment aimed at helping therapy patients walk.

The foundation, through the Wallace Funds, awarded $6,867 in grants to Affinity Medical Group physicians and Affinity Health System employees participating in medical mission trips that help the needy in other parts of the world.

The following grants were awarded to community organizations through the foundation’s permanent endowment that supports area non-profit organizations:

$20,000 to LEAVEN, Inc. for emergency financial and referral assistance for low-income people
$15,000 to the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley, Inc. to support the shelter
$10,000 to COTS, Inc., to provide transitional housing for homeless individuals
$10,000 to Harbor House, Appleton, to support the organization’s children’s program
$7,000 to Community Clothes Closet, Inc., for ongoing operations
$6,000 to CAP Services, Inc., for tuition, fees, books, childcare and mileage for its Skills Enhancement program participants who are pursuing medical careers
$5,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, Inc., to fund a Triple Play (mind, body, soul) strategy focusing on managing stress, maintaining fitness and positive peer relationships
$5,000 to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Fox Valley supporting projects that educate and allow for special opportunities for low income mentally ill people
$5,000 to the Fox Cities Sexual Assault Crisis Center to support intervention services
$5,000 to the Thompson Community Center, Appleton, for the health clinic and nurse advocate
$3,000 to B.A.B.E.S., Inc., for support of child abuse prevention programs
$3,000 to FISC providing for crisis funds for vehicle repair, food, gas, utilities and medical needs
$3,000 to Reach Counseling Services to help address the needs of child abuse victims
$2,500 to Rebuilding Together Fox Valley, Appleton, for a year-round home modification and safety program
$2,000 to Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin to fund the Parent Connection, a program that promotes positive parenting skills and parent-child interaction
$2,000 to the Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin, Appleton, to help fund the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

The St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary this year, is dedicated to living out the healing ministry of Christ with a special emphasis on those in need, by generating, stewarding and distributing funds to enhance the quality of Affinity Heath System’s services and programs, and other community health care initiatives.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.