STEADY

MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION

2020 ANNUAL REPORT IN THE MIDST

OF A PANDEMIC

IN A TIME

OF UPHEAVAL

IN THE FACE

OF A STORM

IN MOMENTS OF

UNRAVELING THE MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION STAFF IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE Traci Marciniak AMBERWING COMMITTEE FOLLOWING AREAS: PRESIDENT Dr. Kathleen Atmore Amberwing - Center for Rick Gertsema Joan Oswald Jeff Holmes Youth & Family Well-Being * DONOR RELATIONS/GRANTS Rebecca Hoversten-Mellem Traci Marciniak Animal-Assisted Therapy Kerry Jo Johnson Dr. Elena Metcalf FOUNDATION MARKETING Pat Mullen Burn Care SPECIALIST Lori Thrun Kurt Radke Cancer Care Kathy Makkyla Dr. Steve Sutherland Innovations DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Mental Health Doreen Studier FINANCE COMMITTEE ACCOUNTANT Mike Altman Physical Rehabilitation Mary Kay Berarducci Solvay Hospice House * Lori Thrun Mark Emmel BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Jeff Holmes Surgical Services PROGRAM MANAGER Shane Johnson Kathy Makkyla * The Miller-Dwan Foundation owns BOARD OF DIRECTORS Traci Marciniak these facilities and is responsible Dr. Kathleen Atmore Tim McShane Tanya Nichols for ongoing fundraising and Mary Kay Berarducci, Secretary Mike Seyfer charitable support. Ryan Boman * Doreen Studier Tricia Bunten * Miller-Dwan Foundation Jennifer Carey, Chair INNOVATIONS GRANT Ryan Edmunds COMMITTEE 502 East 2nd Street Mark J. Emmel Jenny Carey Duluth, MN 55805 Jeff Holmes Jeff Holmes mdfoundation.org Shane Johnson Kathy Makkyla Jamie Langenbrunner ** Brian Milliken Angel Koski ** Joan Oswald Tim McShane You see it in those who’ve weathered the worst. And feel it from those Dr. Elena Metcalf SOLVAY HOSPICE Pat Mullen HOUSE COMMITTEE who nurture the best. A powerful presence, built out of resilience and Tanya Nichols, Vice-chair Sonja Baertsch Jenny Peterson * Jenny Carey compassion. It’s what defines the Miller-Dwan Foundation. And it’s Mike Seyfer, Treasurer Jennifer Dobbs Janice Schade Ryan Edmunds expressed in the stories, lives and healing gifts of those who believe Susan Skytta ** Pat Hanson Brad Jenkins * INCOMING BOARD MEMBER Traci Marciniak supporting our region’s health is more important than ever before. OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER ** Dr. Keith Peterson Kevin Rodlund ABILITIES FIRST FUND COMMITTEE VAN GORDEN FUND Stories...... 4-7, 10-13 Janelle Fresvik COMMITTEE Brian Milliken Alexandra Borstad Burn care...... 8-9 Joan Oswald Janelle Fresvik Financial impact...... 16-17 Mary Sinner Contents Joan Jeanetta Chris Thorson ARTcetera...... 18 Kathy Makkyla Brian Milliken President’s letter...... 19 Tim Sieh Make a gift...... 19 Chris Thorson Joan Oswald

04 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION OF LIFE IN THE JOURNEY [ KEVIN] GRACE sensed thiscalm,loving environment was the rightplace to be. a doctor told them about Solvay. Kevin paid avisitand instantly more treatments. They felt unprepared for hospice. Thankfully, hospice care immediately inorder to regain her strength for months later,Fifteen they got news thatKristinshould enter of coloncancer shook their world and slowed itto astop. children, Kristin continued marching forward. Then adiagnosis When she moved to Duluth, Minnesota withher husband and she found ofpeace andtranquility.” thisamazingreservoir phosing into greatness,” Kevin says. “She found And herself. “All of her pastexperiences were coming out and metamor- traininginItaly.were being utilized, whichled to further to become itsCEO.Even her background inmusic and theater workingShe started ataschool, and soon parents asked her to help injured people indistress when noone else would. In the cityof Shanghai,Kristinwould rush into the streets the move triggered akindof life transformation. But while Kristin hadonce been quiet andunassuming, where theyto had adopted the country their son, Jack. felt called intheir faith to make abrave change by returning everything they owned andmoving to China.The couple and tookembraced life’s aboldstep: uncertainty selling Kevin Chederquist whenhe and hiswife, remembers Kristin,

“It was amazing watching the nurses around the patients. There was such a compassionate level of care happening,” he says.

During the next seven days, the Chederquists became the ones blanketed in this atmosphere of loving Solvay Hospice House, built and attention and kindness. When the couple wanted to maintained by the Miller-Dwan go out to eat, but couldn’t, the staff served them a Foundation, is a setting where kindness is at the heart of the special dinner: “our ‘Lady and the Tramp’ night,” dying experience. The Foundation Kevin says. When the family hired a photographer, relies on ongoing generosity to nurses prepared Kristin for the special shoot. They hid Photo credit: JaneCane Photography maintain the facility and ensure gifts for a child’s birthday party. And so much more. everyone in our region has access came in: on a stretcher, sitting up waving, saying to this unique resource. Thank you “The nurses were Incredible. They always knew ‘thank you for having me!’ She and her family for designating gifts to Solvay. the ‘patch’ that needed to be put on at that were wonderful.” moment, at any moment,” Kevin says. “We felt like we were in a 5-star hotel. There was this amazing When things changed quickly for Kristin, the nurses dignity to Kristin’s life that could be elevated and were even more vital. “I’d been sleeping there every respected—with the architecture and ambience of night, monitoring. She had a good night but was Solvay, with the meals and more. It was really bedridden, so I went home to take care of the dogs. customized care. It was all perfect.” I got a call at 6 a.m. the next morning and the nurse said, ‘We’re at the end, she’s waiting for you.’ I got He was able to relax and not worry about cooking and there and her breathing was labored, the nurses were cleaning bedpans, but focus on being fully present. crying, and I put my arms around Kristin … and she That’s exactly what Solvay’s team of 35 nurses, stopped breathing. Just like that.” housekeepers and cooks do every day for the Photo credit: JaneCane Photography patients in the home’s 12 rooms. Kristin died September 19, 2020, at age 57. “She would want to share her gratitude with everyone who’s made “In each of the rooms, there are special people. And such a beautiful gift to our region possible,” Kevin says. we ask how we can make this the best part of the end Watch a video about of their journey,” says nurse clinician Lynn Ewer. She “It was amazing. We could relax in the knowledge the Chederquist family fondly recalls the special energy Kristin and her loved that we were being cared for and focus on each other. at mdfoundation.org ones brought to Solvay. “I remember the day she And we had a wonderful ending, thanks to Solvay.” 06 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION RESILIENCE OF ASTORM OF FACE THE IN [ ABBY] intensive outpatient experience hadto be done online. once helped Abby’s older sister. The only catch:the 15-day 2020 for the kindof full-spectrum, transformative care that had -Center forAmberwing Youth & Family Well-Being inthe fall of was much harder. Upon returning to Duluth, they turned to to Arizona,finding high-quality mental health care, close to home, She hadbeen intherapy for years. But when her family moved 17. shouldn’t learn whatIdid,” says Abby Fermenich, “I grew up too fast: Ididn’t have achildhood. Five-year-olds darkness isn’talways easy. Ittakes practice. always feel thatway. Because findinglightinthe face of you are—even and wonderful resilient, when you artistic don’t Use the skillslearned intherapy thatremind you of just how and just keep swimming.”Tune into humor andhold onto faith. For the Fermenich family, their saying is:“Take adeep breath moments, splashinginto life andrelationships without warning. traumatic life event? atunexpected The kindof painthat surfaces How do people manage the emotional turmoil caused by a

“I hated it at first, because it pulled me out of my comfort zone,” Abby says. But she soon opened up, made friends and engaged—rather than fall asleep— in group and individual therapy.

“There was a big transformation,” says Sigurd Haller, Built by the Miller-Dwan Foundation, a psychotherapist who runs Amberwing’s teletherapy Amberwing provides children and program for middle and high school students. families the best possible short- He says virtual therapy can be challenging for some term intensive mental health and and great for others, so therapists stay alert for substance use treatment available— signs of success. Like when youth start smiling so they can learn lifelong skills that and interacting more. When they’re less angry or “Sometimes it’s about learning to just communicate help them heal. Your support irritable. Or when they’re getting more sleep and with each other, so we can read one another makes it possible. Thank you. school performance starts improving. properly,” Julie says. “Our family has been through “With changes in thought, we notice changes in a lot. I’m grateful we can lean on each other if one behavior,” Haller says. “We meet kids where they’re person isn’t in a good spot. There’s always an at. We validate them and help them identify and anchor for someone to hold on to.” build on their strengths.” The family practices tuning in and riding out waves Abby’s favorite part of the program was art therapy. of discomfort by using the dialectical behavior It’s one of her passions and a great source of comfort, therapy (DBT) skills they learned at Amberwing. just like her cat, Remy, and the church youth group Abby uses DBT approaches like “push away” to where her leadership skills have blossomed over the distance herself from painful thoughts and “cope years. She finds strength in humor, bonding with her ahead” to deal with unknown outcomes, like whether sister and father—who’ve also experienced PTSD— a friend will text back or not. Practicing these skills over jokes that her mom doesn’t always understand has been a stabilizing force. And it’s helped remind but appreciates. The family motto, after all, is “live them that no matter what happened in the past, for the awkward moment.” no one can ever take away their hope. And no one can stop Abby from bravely sharing her story. The program was “simply incredible” for its ability Watch a video to see to foster healthy interaction, says Abby’s mom, “It’s OK to talk about your trauma. That’s always Abby’s transformation at mdfoundation.org Julie Fermenich. up to you and your comfort level,” Abby says. “It’s powerful to share your story. You can change a life.” 08 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION the new hospitaltower. will move in to apermanent home trauma services within construction project. Once completed, the Dwan Burn Center until Essentia Health completes the Vision Northland will continue to be provided locations inthese two St.Mary’s Medical Centerlocated Building. Burn care inthe St.Mary’s of needs, burn patients are now cared for intwo patient units care of burn patients when needed. Depending on the level skills inother locations withinthe hospital, focusing onthe the Dwan Burn Center. have Staff since been utilizing their Miller-Dwan change was to Building. relocate One necessary during 2020,significanttransformation occurred withinthe As healthcare teams prepared for the COVID pandemic unwavering commitment to thecause. location didnot, andwillnot, alter Miller-Dwan Foundation’s clinicians andhassaved countlesslives. in Arecentchange been hometo someofour region’s mosthighly trained Created C.Dwan’s to father, honor Mary theburn center has oftheMiller-Dwan Foundation’shas been a part history. rich Since itsinception in thelate 1960s,theDwan Burn Center

Dwan Burn Center islocated, it. we willcontinue to support most challenging healthcare specialties. No matter where the ever been. Burn care hasalways been andremains one of the change. We are asdeeply committed aswe’ve to burn services None of that will education, equipment and family support. Center providers are the best inour nation. We’ve provided The Miller-Dwan Foundation hashelped assure thatDwan Burn including healthcare providers withburn expertise. burn patientscanbenefit from afull team of trauma clinicians, trauma patients. Withalong listof associated medical problems, those withserious injuries—are considered patients—particularly fewer patients today thaninpastyears. Another reason isthatburn prevention are working: the center andeducation efforts sees far The change makes sense for several reasons. One isthatburn

STABILIZING

OUR REGION’S

BURN CARE 10 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION feel settled, Mariannesays. Neither didKale andhisfamily. of obsessive-compulsive disorder, inways thathelped him how to handle hisaggressive behavior, triggered by the fixations unruliness were met with“24-hour holds.” They didn’t know of home, sudden bursts pandemic hit.Inhisstaff-supervised For Kale, lockdown—even thatmeant livingin before the kind of help. itcanalso be hardermental healthexpert, to the offer right identify, manage andexpress their emotions. Ifyou’re not a autism to the mix,anditcanbe harder for ayoung to person seeking, impulsive andoccasional reckless behavior. Add that asthe braindevelops, aspike there’s often insensation late teenage years, the family needed help. Psychiatrists say fellowWhen thisbig-hearted feeling started the tumult ofhis “And he’sabigboy: 6’4”,280.“ sweet“He’s very andloving,” says hismom, Marianne. at the family tire Carlton shop in withhisdad. and any chancehe gets to tinker withamechanical challenge with friends andchillingby the lake. He also loves hisfamily Like somany 21-year-olds, Kale Pierson UPHEAVAL OF ATIMEIN SUPPORT loves movies, hanging

[ KALE] As a person with limited ability to express himself “It’s not at all what I expected. The care was just amazing,” The Miller-Dwan Foundation supports psychiatric healing for with words, Kale’s frustration and isolation spiraled Marianne says. “The entire team gave it their all to support adults, youth and families in the downward, along with his behavior. He needed people Kale. There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude. He region’s most comprehensive who would take the time to understand, work with really mattered to people. Working with Kale had its challenges settings for adult and adolescent him, and help him grow. People like Matt East. at times, but they were always so positive about him and the inpatient care, partial hospitalization experience. That made all the difference in the world.” and more. Because with the right “When Kale arrived, we didn’t know a lot about him or care at the right time, we can how we were supposed to care for him. We’re typically It took time, coaching and a team-intensive approach to help save and steady lives. Thank you [ KALE ] not a long-term care facility. So how do we do this?” Kale address his daily needs—from skill building and medica- for your compassionate support. asked East, a behavioral health technician at Essentia tion to physical and occupational therapy. But he was even- Health’s Miller-Dwan inpatient mental health unit in tually ready to move back into a staff-supported home his Duluth. “Within a couple of weeks, we figured it out as parents purchased for him. The Piersons even modified the a team. And a couple of us volunteered to help him home to create a “sensory room” and a “time out room” to during every shift—to help him succeed here, so when mimic the mood stabilizing resources found at Miller-Dwan. he transitioned out of our care, he’d be prepared.” The transition of moving out of your home is stressful for any Kale’s meltdowns subsided. And over the next eight child and parent. For Kale, being on the autism spectrum made months, despite the stressful changes spurred by the it even more intense. Without the support of the behavioral arrival of COVID, a gradual transformation occurred. health unit and the lessons Kale learned, Marianne says the entire family would’ve been at a major loss. “By the end of his stay with us, you could tell Kale was coping with his stress so much better than when he “The entire experience taught us separation. That’s had arrived. Rarely did he act out. That team effort in something I hadn’t realized we both needed. So that progressing his care showed,” Matt says. “And we it wasn’t always ‘mommy to the rescue.’” developed a bond. We all came to appreciate his pres- ence. It was kind of heartbreaking to see him leave.” It also came at a crucial time for the Carlton, Minnesota mother and small business owner. Marianne had been It was also “heartbreaking” at first for the Pierson family diagnosed and dealing with cancer while Kale was to send Kale to an inpatient psychiatric unit. Dealing receiving intensive help at Miller-Dwan. with a fear of the unknown, they imagined their son Watch a video about was being locked up in a cold and sterile space. They “I’m beyond grateful that things worked out the way they did,” Kale’s experience soon realized Miller-Dwan was a source of stability, she says. “There was no way I’d have been able to do it while at mdfoundation.org dignity and possibility. dealing with surgery and chemo. It was such a blessing.” 12 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION [ WAYNE] OF APANDEMIC OF IN THE MIDST HEALING of the coronavirus himstruggling. had left days sedated on aventilator. But the ravages Hesurvived. where he received platelet infusions andspent thenext 19 Wayne was transferred Medical Center to inDuluth, St.Mary’s Two days later, on the couple’s 48thwedding anniversary, room near their rural Minnesota home on October 18, 2020. His wife, Linda,does. She took himto anAitkinemergency initial hospital stay inanintensive care unit. “I don’t remember it,”the 68-year-old says about his to situp, standandwalk ahead ten paces. Three weeks later, he woke upneeding oxygen andassistance him down. Then aventilator andsedation knocked himout. When COVID-19 hitWayne Plekkenpol, the fever knocked

Over the course of the next two months, he slowly got With a mission of supporting back up—and back to breathing, walking, and living a the most comprehensive forms full life—with the steady help of a dedicated team of of physical rehabilitation for our rehabilitation specialists at the Miller-Dwan Inpatient region, Miller-Dwan Foundation Rehabilitation Center who were adjusting to the and its generous donors have coronavirus along with the rest of the world. championed and funded countless advances in care and empowered thousands of lives. Thank you for “I couldn’t tell you enough nice things about the staff. support that ensures miracles They treated me like I was the only one there, and the can continue to happen. place was full of patients,” Wayne says. “Other patients I spoke with said the same: everyone from the caregivers to people picking up trash were just so nice.” and out of the family’s truck. Without that A team of physical and occupational therapists, ability, traveling anywhere—including to medical speech therapists, psychologists, nurses and doctors appointments—would have been a problem.” helped Wayne take baby steps to rebuilding lung function and relearning how to use his body in ways “They have the right stuff there to get you back on your he’d previously taken for granted. feet,” Linda says. “Everyone there is awesome. They have great communication. They’re very kind, honest “They did more than just take care of you. They wanted and explain things if you can’t understand. I can’t to make sure you were doing it right,” Wayne says. thank them enough for taking care of him.” “The different departments talked with each other, they watched out for you to make sure you were Wayne says he’d never been sick before, and never making progress.” realized all of this was so close to home. “If I’d have been anywhere else, I couldn’t have gotten that kind Disease has a way of making everyday tasks feel of care and the things I needed to get better so fast.” challenging and rewarding. Wayne says it took him 20 minutes to stack 14 cans and boxes on a high shelf As one of the most highly regarded sources of inpatient the first time he tried it in therapy, but that got easier rehabilitative care in Minnesota and in the nation, as the action stretched his lungs in new ways. Certain Miller-Dwan Inpatient Rehabilitation Center helps machines also helped him make faster strides in hundreds of adults and children from across the region regaining strength, heart-lung capacity and mobility— each year. In 2020, the team had to quickly adjust by Watch a video about like the NuStep recumbent cross-trainer, funded learning to treat COVID patients like Wayne. He was Wayne’s recovery by the Miller-Dwan Foundation, and a car transfer among a handful of patients, and perhaps the region’s at mdfoundation.org simulator. “That was a game changer,” Linda says, first, to need such intensive and ongoing rehabilitative “because it prepared Wayne to be able to get in care for the disease, staff say. 14 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION and achance to get backto their lives.” be like. to give Andwe try themsome hope people whodon’t know whatlife is going to some independence,” says “It’sfor Thorson. medical or traumatic events oftheirlives to regain “We help people who’ve gone through the worst injuries, andother serious medical events. like recovering from stroke, brainand spinalcord more people were referred for traditional needs they were busier thanever before. That’sbecause evenrehabilitation manager ChrisThorson, though of 100+galvanized the staff inmany ways, says new research aspatient needs evolved. Andit The pandemic prompted the team to dive into the only one there.” They treated melike Iwas nice things about thestaff. “I couldn’t tell you enough

people looking out for one another.” so we became aneven tighter-knit group of Everyone was going through common themes, ourselves. Andthatwe need to have grace. a breaking point andneed to take time for pandemic. Our team recognized we mightreach that bigofadeal anymore dealing witha after “None of the usual challenges seemed like patientcare and those who providesupporting it. Miller-Dwan Foundation hastheir backs—both for team hasto routinely make. Andthey know the reflects thekind of ongoing adjustments the Dealing withcoronavirus’ impact on patients

AN ANCHOR F O R

TURBULENT WATERS,

A MOORING F O R

LIFE’S WAVES.

A GUIDE ON THE JOURNEY

FROM FEAR TO CHANGE

TO POSSIBILITY.

A CONSTANT COMPANION

FOR HOLDING CLOSE

AND LETTING GO. 2020 Miller-Dwan Foundation Innovations/ Greatest Need Fund Issued twice per year, Miller-Dwan Foundation STEADY Innovation Funds are directed to the historic specialty areas of the former Miller-Dwan Medical Center.

2020 Miller-Dwan $25,000 to Life House for the provision of mental health services Foundation Van Gorden Funds $130,000 continuation of 2019/2020 funding

DWAN FOUNDATION to the Lake Superior Community Health Center Issued twice per year, Miller-Dwan Foundation - for their Northern Minnesota Rural Mental Health Van Gorden Funds directly support physical Outreach Program designed to support farmers’ rehabilitation-related program and equipment needs. mental health. MILLER

$10,000 to 23rd Veteran for 23V Recon, 16 a program that relies on exercise, comradery VAN GORDEN NEW INITIATIVES VAN GORDEN SARA YOUNG and positive psychology to address PTSD and related combat-related mental health problems. OUTREACH FUND EDUCATION FUND

$25,000 to the Program for Aid to Victims $16,985 to the Minnesota Masonic Children’s Clinic $8,866 to the Essentia Health Therapy of Sexual Assault (PAVSA) for direct therapeutic to expand access to and training for children who Center to provide oncology rehabilitation mental health services. need communication tools and services. education to 50 rehabilitation staff.

$10,000 to the Clarity Project for facilitation that $3,500 to the Minnesota Ballet for a weekly will result in improvements in the Region III behavioral adaptive ballet class that accommodates the ADDITIONAL VAN GORDEN FUNDING health system by creating a new trauma-informed, wide range of abilities and experiences of person-centered comprehensive behavioral health children with developmental challenges. $260,014 to support the move of Polinsky care center for those experiencing behavioral health Medical Rehabilitation Services from the crisis and/or concerns. $15,000 to Courage Kenny Duluth for the downtown campus to the Miller Hill Health Plaza. Great Lake Mono-Ski Madness, an event $40,000 to the Miller-Dwan Inpatient designed to provide downhill adaptive Rehabilitation Center to purchase necessary skiing activities and education. TOTAL: $596,365 rehabilitation equipment that supports healing of those who are recovering from stroke, $50,000 to the Miller-Dwan Inpatient brain injury and other neurological challenges. Rehabilitation Center to purchase necessary rehabilitation equipment. $2,000 for Misc. Community Support. 2020 Miller-Dwan Foundation Designated Funds

Solvay Hospice House Cancer Care and Cancer Animal Assisted Therapy FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2020 For compassionate and dignified Survivorship To support the use of end-of-life care, home Patient-focused programming, animals in goal-directed ASSETS maintenance and education, and materials care settings...... $1,203 2019 (Market Value)...... $30,434,763 subsidized rent...... $488,374 as well as retreats and 2020 (Market Value)...... $33,865,297 (unaudited) bereavement care...... $3,275 Spiritual Care Amberwing – Center for To assure the availability Youth & Family Well-Being Behavioral Health Care of patient care CONTRIBUTIONS To provide mental health Program Support and materials...... $2,500 2019...... $1,286,799 programming for ages special patient care birth to 26 and their initiatives...... $109,538 2020...... $1,156,399 families and Total...... $1,225,364 subsidized rent...... $442,007 Rehabilitation Services Patient care and Burn Pain and Wound Care equipment...... $37,256 Clinician education and patient care equipment...... $141,211

IMPACT

TOGETHER, WE’RE LISTENING TO OUR Amberwing REGION’S HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND Solvay RESPONDING WITH STRONG SUPPORT Rehabilitation Services FOR INNOVATIVE, COMPASSIONATE Burn Services AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS. Mental Health Cancer Care Spiritual Care Misc

TOTAL: $1,821,729 18 MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION Annual 23 your commitment and contributions made allthe difference. bike, and more. Together, anoutdoor deck party, apool party all thestops to like donate acustom-built gifts sauna, aPeloton Dwan, andboard sponsors our donors, who pulled out members times inhistory. Ithappened withhelp from the daughters of Mary CyberCetera was ahuge success during one of the most difficult amid the stress of the pandemic. many of our region’s kidsare facing—now more thanever those mental healthand substance abuse problems thatso These funds allowed us to begin preventing andaddressing for new andinnovative programming for youth. Amberwing’s Cyber The first ever Miller-Dwan ART cetera Foundation virtual , or a dramaticand lastingimpact. made sure the eventsupporters continued itslegacy of creating had adramatically different look andfeel in2020.Yet generous ART Cyber cetera withpurpose, , the region’s signature annual party Cetera aswe lovingly calledit,raisedmorethan$300,000 Cetera RD : a virtual ART : a virtual SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 SAVE cetera THE DATE

LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT

The term “unprecedented” has been used every action we’ve taken to ensure your how deeply COVID has, and will continue to, frequently over the past year—and with good friends and neighbors have access to the best, impact all areas of healthcare. By standing reason. The disruption the COVID-19 pandemic specialized healthcare available. Throughout firm and steady, and because of the generosity has had on a global scale has been something the upheaval of the past year, we all witnessed of our supporters, the Miller-Dwan Foundation the majority of us have never seen or experi- moments of strength and steadiness. In the is well-prepared to weather what comes next enced in our lifetimes. It served as a wake-up case of the Miller-Dwan Foundation, we looked and take whatever steps are necessary to call, showing each and every one of us the to our supporters and our mission to guide us provide the best possible care for the fragility of so many facets of our lives, including when the world, our region, and our lives felt people in our region. our own health and that of the ones we love, chaotic and uncertain. While COVID-19 is a and certainly our healthcare systems that we health crisis all its own, its presence didn’t rely on to care for and cure us. eliminate the need to care for patients who require physical rehabilitation, mental health Since 1973, people throughout the region have and substance use, burn, cancer, and other trusted the Miller-Dwan Foundation to be a types of care to be well and flourish. As time steadfast organization, and they’ve supported moves on, we are only starting to recognize

Traci Marciniak Jennifer Carey PRESIDENT 2021 BOARD CHAIR

mdfoundation.org

Our website makes it easier to donate in the way that’s right for you, as well as apply for grants or stay in touch with the Miller-Dwan Foundation community online.

Please contact us or visit anytime to talk about an intended gift, ask questions or get additional information. 218.786.5829 • [email protected] IN MEMORY OF

KRISTIN CHEDERQUIST

AND EVERYONE WHO

PASSED ON IN 2020.

SUPPORT FOR A HEALTHIER REGION The Miller-Dwan Foundation improves the health of the people of our region through the creation of impactful community solutions that overcome barriers. We support the future and the legacy of Miller-Dwan Medical Center, Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center, Solvay Hospice House, Amberwing – Center for Youth & Family Well-Being and other initiatives for our region’s health. By coming together with others 502 E. 2nd Street Duluth, MN 55805 who share our vision and passion, we are able to make a difference in the lives of people every day. 218-786-5829 mdfoundation.org If you wish to have your name removed from the list to receive future Miller-Dwan Foundation fundraising requests, please call or write to us at our address. Please know every effort is made to ensure that all donor names are included, and that each is spelled and listed correctly. If an error has been made, please email [email protected], call, or write to us at our address.

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