You Are Amazing
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you are amazing 2019 Foundation Annual Report Allen Foundation Welcome Dear Friends, When you look back at 2019, you will see the beginnings of a transformation. We are not referring to major changes in the current staff and board, or a newly defined mission. We are talking about new priorities and expanded opportunities. For the first time in over four years, the Foundation’s focus shifted from its largest capital campaign goals to smaller operational needs and programming support. In 2019, we saw a major focus put on Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center and the many programs and services in place to help patients suffering from a mental illness. We also saw greater priority made for the Foundation’s IMPACT Fund, including money set aside to support programs, equipment needs and staff development. This newly shifted and expanded focus has allowed for countless opportunities for both those we serve, as well as those who support Allen. In total, nearly $3.8 million was granted by the Allen Foundation in 2019 to further invest in local healthcare and healthcare education. Despite transitioning to new and broader areas of need, the Foundation continues to hold the proper stewardship of donated dollars as a key indicator of successfully leading our mission. Rest assured that your philanthropic investment in the Allen Foundation continues to be a good one. Once again, the Allen Foundation exceeded the top 75% threshold among community hospitals last year when comparing dollars raised to Foundation operating expenses. This means more of your investment is going straight to supporting those who need it. We welcome this transition with open arms, because we know that philanthropy’s role is more important at Allen than ever before. Thank you for partnering with the Allen Foundation and for your continued commitment to ensuring affordable, quality, local healthcare. You are amazing. Sincerely, JoAn Headington Mike Lind Pam Delagardelle Board Chair, Executive Director, President and CEO, Allen Foundation Allen Foundation UnityPoint Health – Waterloo 2 2019 in Review TOTAL HOSPITAL INPATIENTS (Does not include Rehab and Behavioral Health) Allen Share Black Hawk County Hospitals: 62% 16,035 Allen Hospital Inpatients: 9,982 TOTAL HOSPITAL OUTPATIENTS Black Hawk County Hospitals: Allen Share 108,759 45% Allen Hospital Outpatient Visits: 49,331 TOTAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS Black Hawk County Hospitals: Allen Share 64,463 51% Allen Hospital Emergency Department Visits: 32,798 TOTAL BABIES DELIVERED Black Hawk County Hospitals: 2,266 Allen Share Allen Hospital Deliveries: 1,231 54% Never underestimate how meaningful you are. TOTAL NUMBER OF WATERLOO REGION EMPLOYEES 3, 1 5 0 3 Allen Foundation Shifts Focus to Mental Health Services and The Community Responds Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center Awareness Breakfast More than 500 tickets were sold to the inaugural Black to make a difference,” shared Stacey Bentley, co-chair of Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center Awareness Breakfast the event. that was held in September 2019. The event featured Joan Becker, who shared the story of her son, Mark In total, the event raised more than $47,000 in support Becker, and his life with paranoid schizophrenia. of the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center and the programs in place to help patients suffering from a In addition to Becker’s story, which gained national mental illness. attention; local resident Shane Schellhorn gave a personal account of his experience with mental illness Thank you to event co-chairs Stacey Bentley, CEO of and urged attendees to de-stigmatize seeking treatment Community Bank & Trust, and Bette Wubbena, Events for the disease. KWWL’s Ron Steele and Black Hawk Director for Grow Cedar Valley, as well as committee County Sheriff Tony Thompson emceed the event, which members Deb Dralle, Tom Eachus, Anesa Kajtazovic, proved to be a powerful morning. Donna Miller, Kathy McCoy and Wendy Smith for all their work on this important event. “I was both overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous response to the inaugural Black Hawk- “My co-chair, Stacey Bentley, and I had no challenges Grundy Mental Health Center Awareness Breakfast. The in recruiting a team to plan the event. The committee community’s response indicates the need for continuing members were very dedicated to assist in raising to raise awareness, de-stigmatize those seeking support for the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health treatment, and utilize the willingness of our community Center,” said Wubbena. 4 Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Pledges $50,000 Match Grant to Allen Foundation Offers for help poured in as a result of the mental health Thank you to all who have played a part in helping those breakfast event. Many attendees and other community with a mental health condition. Due to the Covid-19 members asked, “How can I help?” One group willing to pandemic, the 2nd annual event is cancelled but help and prepared to coordinate further support was the fundraising efforts will still take place to make sure we Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA). continue to support those suffering from a mental illness. The CFNEIA teamed up with the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center and the Allen Foundation to To learn more about the event, keep the momentum alive and facilitate offers from the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health community to help. CFNEIA pledged a $50,000 match for all money raised by the Allen Foundation in November Center, or to show your support, and December in support of those struggling from a contact the Allen Foundation at: mental illness. (319) 235-3960 Thanks to strong support of a Giving Tuesday campaign and many generous donors, the match was met. In fact, including the matching grant, the Allen Foundation raised $109,303 in a two-month span to benefit the Black Hawk- Grundy Mental Health Center. “I’m grateful for all of the support we received as part of this matching gift opportunity,” said Tom Eachus, Executive Director of the Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center. “Mental health continues to be a priority in our community, and the tremendous response of our donors and the community underscores that fact.” 5 Clara’s Near-Death Experience Inspires Campaign for Special Ventilator It was a Wednesday when Matt and Ashley Tison of Nurses checked Clara’s oxygen levels, and they were Vinton went to UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital to dangerously low. So, the NICU team was summoned, welcome a beautiful baby girl named Clara. Clara spent and Clara was whisked away. She was hooked up to a her first 20 minutes crying before giving way to a new standard ventilator for the night, but it proved to be too concern. much for Clara’s tiny lungs and they collapsed. “Every time Clara would take a breath, she would grunt, Only one piece of equipment could save Clara now. It and her abdominal area was extremely pronounced, was a high-frequency jet ventilator, and the closest one almost like she was using just her abs to breathe,” recalls was at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Matt. Rapids. Without it, Clara likely wouldn’t make it. Clara was fighting for her life. As Clara’s oxygen decreased to undetectable levels, the St. Luke’s team arrived with the jet ventilator. Now stabilized, a crew started to transport Clara to St. Luke’s, but her heart stopped for 10 minutes just a few miles down the road, forcing the ambulance to return to Allen. With Clara appearing gray and lifeless, the medical team stabilized her again and transported her for more advanced care. Matt remembers hearing officials say Clara was one of the sickest babies they’d ever seen. By the weekend, doctors were certain Clara would have brain damage. By Monday, doctors believed she’d lost her fight, and the Tisons made the decision to remove Clara from life support the next day. However, something happened Monday night. Clara’s body decided to live. From there, Clara made a miraculous recovery. In all, she spent a month in the hospital and, amazingly, she left as a normal child with no physical or mental damage. Still, the initial issue remained – the need for an infant- appropriate ventilator at Allen Hospital. Fortunately, the Tison family took the issue personally and established a campaign to raise $46,530 to put a new jet ventilator at Allen Hospital. Through fundraising efforts of the Tisons and some generous supporters of the Allen Foundation, the necessary funds were raised to purchase the much- needed piece of equipment. 6 Clara’s Near-Death Experience Inspires Campaign for Special Ventilator “When we were in Iowa City, my father-in-law had the year, which if that helps us save that many lives, would idea and said, ‘Let’s get one,’” recalls Matt. “We’re trying be well worth it. Plus, it’s the right thing to do.” to make sure other families don’t have to go through what we did.” “Allen and Dr. (Sussan Ndakor) Mbi did everything they could for our little girl,” Matt says. “They were The jet ventilator is different than a standard ventilator just as broken-hearted as we were. Just to be able to because it delivers air in short, delicate bursts. As a have a hospital in our community with that level of result, it’s less demanding on an infant’s lungs. personability and care is something special.” I’ve been doing this for 34 years, and it’s the most “I don’t get very emotional, but this touched me,” says frustrating thing to know that this child, this baby, Graham. “It’s a great story, and she’s a miracle. Yeah, we needs this, and we don’t have it,” says Tom Graham, played a big part in this, but somebody upstairs played Manager of Cardiopulminary Services at Allen Hospital.