News Release

-Thousands help set new record for philanthropy in southwest Washington to support advanced medical services and programs for vulnerable populations-

More than 6,000 people helped shatter all previous records for gving in southwest Washington by supporting the Campaign for Southwest Washington Medical Center. The general public donated a significant share of a record $53.5 million in the multi-year Campaign, setting a new record for the philanthropic gifts in the process. The total funds collected are considered the most money raised for any single cause in the history of southwest Washington.

First launched to raise $15 million for a new patient tower at the Vancouver-based Medical Center, the Campaign gained sufficient momentum that its original goal more than tripled to $50 million. In the process, the Campaign became one of the top fundraisers of its kind in the nation for a community-focused hospital.

'It was an audacious dream achieved,' said Jean Rahn, executive director, Southwest Foundation. Rahn says the Campaign broke new ground in Clark County and southwest Washington, where previous fundraising campaigns typically garnered between $3-5 million.

'We have seen generosity on a level rarely experienced in a community this size,' added Rahn. 'There are those who say Clark County philanthropy came of age in this campaign, and perhaps it did. It is true that many more charities now have the confidence to launch their own campaigns.'

Nearly 20,000 individual gifts were pledged to the campaign. The donation total includes $769,862 from Southwest employees and $894,717 from community physicians who practice at the Medical Center.

The Campaign began officially October 1, 2004, but 95% of the funds were raised or pledged in the last year and a half. Galvanized by two extraordinary pacesetting gifts of $15 million each, the Campaign for Southwest Washington Medical Center eventually broadened its scope to support 45 projects within the Medical Center.

Donors were inspired to give in two primary areas. Supporters wanted high-tech facilities and equipment to ensure that the most sophisticated surgical procedures and medical treatment are available in Vancouver. Others were motivated by programs that provide medical care to underserved populations including low-income families, the dying, and the mentally ill.

'The new Firstenburg Patient Tower stands as a monument to this community's amazing spirit of giving,' said Joseph Kortum, Southwest President and CEO. 'We couldn't have achieved the level of design with the new tower nor packed it full of the advanced new technology we did without the support of our many caring and generous donors.'

The campaign succeeded in large part due to passionate leadership from volunteers. Co-chairs of the Capital Cabinet, Jeanne Firstenburg and David Nierenberg led over 100 volunteers who quickly realized just how strongly our region feels about its community-governed hospital.

'Celebrating the success of the campaign goes well beyond exceeding our original goals; it is really about improving the quality of health care in this community for generations to come. Everyone who contributed their time and talent to this effort should be commended and feel very proud,' said Jeanne Firstenburg.

'Mother Joseph knew what it was like to ride a mule and travel across the region on begging tours to benefit those less fortunate. 150 years into her tradition of selfless community service, we can all be proud of the way this community continues to step up to help our neighbors most in need,' said David Nierenberg.

The campaign had a strong foundation thanks to nine gifts of more than $1 million each. The Campaign 'Donor Honor Roll' includes the 'Pinnacle Circle' representing donations of a $1 million or more. Members include Corky and Linda Angelo, David and Diane Difford, E.W. and Mary Firstenburg, Ray Hickey, Lee and Connie Kearney, Ed and Dollie Lynch, Patricia and David Nierenberg and two anonymous donor families. (See below for specific gifts and supported projects by key donors.)

Projects Supported by Campaign:

• E.W. and Mary Firstenburg Patient Tower-$17,773,894
• Women's and Children's Center of Excellence (includes the Holtzman Twins Special Care Nursery, the new Breast Care Center, KidsPlace pediatric emergency department, and a major refurbishment of the Family Birth Center)-$15,457,834
• Hospice programs and Ray Hickey Hospice House-$7,854,874
• Area of Greatest Need Fund-$3,789,840
• Healthy Steps Women's & Children's Center-$5,055,180
• Other projects and Medical Center departments-$3,655,637

The Holtzman Twins Special Care Nursery and a planned new Breast Care Center are two programs at the Women's and Children's Center of Excellence that can confidently move forward in providing excellent care as a result of our generous community.

"The amazing generosity and commitment to advancing clinical excellence shown by the Nierenberg family has made it possible for us to create an environment that supports the developmental, clinical, and specialized family needs for our most at risk babies,' said Karla Rowe, administrative director, Women's and Children's Services.

Rowe says the work by the leaders of the PINK POWER fundraising efforts, including co-chairs Jody Campbell, Rhona Sen Hoss, Kaycee Wiita and Becky Weis, along with a major gift from Lee and Connie Kearney, surpassed her wildest dreams. 'It demonstrates what motivated people in our community can to do support each other and future generations needing great breast cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment options,' added Rowe.

The E.W. and Mary Firstenburg Tower
Acclaimed as one of the nation's best designed new hospitals (Modern Health Care, Health Care Design, 2007 Community Pride Design Award) the Firstenburg Tower offers wonderful donor options for individuals and families who want to support exceptional medicine while honoring loved ones. With construction soon to begin on the remaining three floors of the Tower (the Cardiac Care Unit, the Intensive Care Unit and another patient floor), additional donors have the chance to support the project. To learn more about a naming opportunity, please contact Dale Simison at 360.514.3182.

2008 Fundraising Goal
The Southwest Foundation has set a new fundraising goal of $6 million in 2008. The money will be used to support the build out of the Firstenburg Tower, construction of a new Breast Care Center, purchase of the Da Vinci(r) robotic surgery system, as well as building endowments for hospice programs, Healthy Steps Women's and Children's Center and Family Medicine of Southwest Washington.

Southwest Washington Medical Center Foundation
Southwest's Foundation is the primary fundraising arm of the Medical Center. The Foundation manages assets of over $42 million given in support of programs such as Healthy Steps Women & Children's Clinic, Breast Care Center, Cardiac Care, Hospice, Cancer Care, Diabetes Education, Physical Rehab and high tech medical equipment. The Foundation is a separately incorporated not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to support the work of the Medical Center as it benefits the community. Therefore, it shares the same goals, namely to increase access and affordability and to work towards prevention. The Foundation raises and manages funds to support large capital needs, new programs, and services for people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. It accomplishes this by working with businesses and individuals that want to make an impact on the Medical Center as a vital, community resource.

Capital Campaign Cabinet:
Jeanne Firstenburg, Co-Chair
David Nierenberg, Co-Chair
E.W. Firstenburg, Honorary Co-Chair
Rainy Atkins
Twyla Barnes, PhD
Brett Bryant
Jody Campbell
Stan Freidberg, MD
T. Randall Grove
Nancy Hart
Denise Haun-Taylor
David Kelly
Joyce Kilpatrick
Joe Kortum
Ed Lynch
Jay Miller, MD
Joe Pauletto
Carolyn Propstra
Christine Rood
Rhona Sen Hoss
Sally Schaefer
Becky Weis
Kaycee Wiita

Pinnacle Circle ($1 million & above)
Anonymous (2) to Healthy Steps ($3.7M)
Corky and Linda Angelo to Firstenburg Patient Tower ($1M)
David and Diane Difford to "unrestricted" fund ($1M)
E.W. and Mary Firstenburg to Firstenburg Patient Tower ($15M)
Ray Hickey for second Hospice House and charity care endowment ($3M)
Lee and Connie Kearney to Breast Care Center ($2.5M)
Ed and Dollie Lynch to "unrestricted" fund ($1M)
David and Patricia Nierenberg to Holtzman Twins Special Care Nursery ($3.25M) and other projects ($12.44M)