Submitted Photo Celebrating the 2018 successful campaign (conducted during the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation's 40th anniversary year) are WMHF Executive Board Members Bob Battaglin, vice president; Kathryn Bronstein, Ph.D., president; with WMHF Executive Director Patricia DiPalma; and Teresa Casler, treasurer. Missing from photo: Kelly Dimitri, secretary. All extend their thanks to those contributed to the campaign.

WESTFIELD — Once again, generous donors have succeeded in taking the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation’s goal over the top in its 40th anniversary year. The 2018 annual campaign raised an impressive $352,849 allowing the foundation to continue to fulfill its mission: As the major source of fundraising for Westfield Memorial Hospital, the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation will work with the hospital in providing financial support for the delivery of high quality health care to the residents of the Chautauqua region.

Donor funds allowed the WMH Foundation to realize its $650,000 commitment to the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) Upgrade opened to the community this past spring. Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation was given close to $185,000 in grants this past year prompting the hospital foundation board of directors to gratefully acknowledge all those who fulfilled earlier campaign pledges or awarded new grants for the ED renovation and equipment including: Lake Shore Savings Bank, Community Bank, Key Bank Foundation, M&T Charitable Foundation, The Robert S. and Janet L. Miller Family Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, The John R. Oishei Foundation, Ripley Community Heritage Fund, Scott Electric Foundation, Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and the Walmart Foundation.

“The Emergency Department Upgrade and acquisition of a Life Fitness Rower in the Cardiac Rehab/Physical Therapy Department would not have been realized without the generous backing of this community and its supporters,” said WMH President Valarie Jackson. “These donors understand the important responsibility our community hospital has for providing high quality and accessible care for all patients in the hospital’s service area.” This area includes Ashville, Bemus Point, Brocton, Chautauqua, Clymer, Dewittville, Findley Lake, Mayville, Panama, Portland, Ripley, Sherman, Stockton and Westfield as well as visitors to our region. The hospital served almost 42,000 patients in 2018.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those in the hospital’s service area who provided financial support so that the foundation can deliver on its promise,” said Dr. Kathryn Bronstein, WMH Foundation Board President. “Our hospital is an outstanding health care facility known for its ‘high-tech’ capabilities and for its friendly and compassionate care. I feel incredibly lucky to have access to this exceptional care so close to home.”

Patricia Gaughan DiPalma, WMH Foundation Executive Director, added “the communities served by the hospital are the pillars of each and every campaign. The 2018 Campaign was no exception. Without the devoted support of the many individuals, countless businesses, churches, schools, foundations and service organizations that joined together in support of the hospital foundation’s mission, we could not have surpassed our goal.”

She continued by saying: “We also would like to thank our entire hospital family including the WMH Board of Directors (BOD), WMH Foundation BOD and WMH Auxiliary BOD, WMH Administration, the esteemed medical staff and ALL the hospital associates who provide their gifts of time and talent on a daily basis. And many thanks go to Dr. Chris Clark, president of our parent hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie and to the Allegheny Health Network, ensuring our community hospital remains viable.”

In addition to emergency care, the hospital provides an array of services, including ambulatory and short stay surgery, outpatient diagnostic services, physical therapy, cardiac rehab, imaging, women’s diagnostic services, digital mammography, laboratory, diabetes education, nuclear stress testing, wound and infusion clinics, inpatient care, laser eye surgery, a sleep lab, and a specialty services suite that includes general surgery, orthopedics, cardiology and diversified hearing services. WMH also provides primary care services at the Chautauqua Institution. “To continue its mission to lend the financial support for the delivery of high quality health care, these departments will look to the foundation to provide funding for needed equipment,” Dr. Bronstein added.

For more information about how to give to this year’s Annual Campaign, please call WMHF Executive Director Patricia DiPalma at 793-2338, or visit at the foundation’s website: www.westfieldhospitafoundation.org.