St. Luke's Foundation Generosity

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Foundation

Fall 2013

Firefighters start Sparky’s Truck PAGE 2 United Fire Group makes a difference

PAGE 4

A legacy of acting locally PAGE 5

stlukesfoundation.com

What’s

Inside Cover: Firefighter Kurt Kroemer with twins Wynne and Nile, former NICU babies, and Sparky’s Truck

1 News & events 2 Your first gift

Sparky’s Truck becomes a bright spot for families

4 Giving over time

United Fire Group helps the community

Rural Healthcare Grants awarded

5 Legacy giving

The passion of Carl and Mary Koehler

St. Luke’s Foundation

Fall 2013

ning for the Future Recognizing our History, Plan president of UnityPoint

as ly announced his retirement As you may be aware, Jim Sea ent over the summer. With irem ret ng oyi and started enj ion dat un Fo s ke’ Lu St. – Health ke’s Foundation Board ounce the unanimous St. Lu ann to d ase ple am I n, tio nsi this tra r as Foundation president. appointment of Mary Klinge of the Jim Sealy served as president 2011.

Foundation since September the new His accomplishments, such as llion for strategic plan, raising $2.5 mi spice the Ed and Joan Hemphill Ho r walls no do t -ar Unit, new state-of-the s, ent tem sta and mission and vision solid y ver a in have left the Foundation position. ed the In appreciation, Jim was award ’s Award St. Luke’s Foundation Founder iat the 2013 Koehler Legacy Soc der’s Award.

Sealy with his Foun nt. eve ty osi ner Mary Klinger and Jim ety Celebration of Ge t awarded This special recognition is no son was der An n regularly. In fact, Dr. Ke award was created in 1977 to be honored in 2006. The ent ipi rec ard Aw s ’ der un Fo t a significant impact on the las s or organizations that have had ual ivid ind ize ogn rec ly cal ityPoint Health – St. Luke’s to specifi dership and dedication to Un lea s ’ Jim y. nit mu com r ou in alth (formerly known healthcare Auxiliary and UnityPoint He s ke’ Lu St. tal, spi Ho s ke’ Lu ly deemed him fit to Foundation, St. er of a century – and certain art qu a ed nn spa has ) tem as Iowa Health Sys receive the Founder’s Award. an integral part her new role. Mary has been to r nge Kli ry Ma ng mi lco we developPlease join me in ly serving as vice president of ent rec st mo , 11 20 ce sin ion Way of East of St. Luke’s Foundat ious positions with the United var d hel ry Ma , s ke’ Lu St. ment. Prior to joining pment. president of resource develo Central Iowa, including vice ward and continues As the Foundation moves for support means so much. planning for the future, your on your history with We encourage you to reflect to help our organization St. Luke’s and how you’d like – whether they are gifts in the future. Gifts of all sizes orrow – help the of today or planned gifts of tom lives its mission… To give the Foundation ensure St. Luke’s ones to receive. healthcare we’d like our loved Warmest regards,

Chair Terri Christoffersen, Board e’s Foundation UnityPoint Health – St. Luk

855 A Ave. NE, Suite 105 Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 319/369-7716 stlukesfoundation.com

Join us Wall of e Remembranc .m.

4•5p May 22, 201 bby A Avenue Lo

acy Society Koehler Leg Celebration p.m

4•5-7 June 19, 201 b s Country Clu Cedar Rapid

Save the Date Wall of Remembrance Ceremony The Wall of Remembrance at St. Luke’s lists the names of those who have been remembered with memorial gifts totaling $1,000 or more. During this annual ceremony, St. Luke’s welcomes family and friends to join in remembering their loved ones with a special service.

Thursday, May 22, 2014 5 p.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital Chapel and A Avenue Lobby

Koehler Legacy Society Celebration Held annually, the event recognizes new and existing legacy society donors and gives supporters an opportunity to learn more about recent St. Luke’s Foundation achievements and future philanthropic opportunities.

June 19, 2014 5 - 7 p.m.

Cedar Rapids Country Club

News and

events

Spirit Run to raise money for the Spirit Fund On October 19, 2013, runner Jeff Garner will attempt to run 50 miles to raise money for the Helen G. Nassif Community Cancer Center Spirit Fund. He’s calling his effort the Spirit Run, and his goal is to raise $7,500. “I invite any and all to come out that day to log a few steps, yards or miles with me,” Garner said. He’ll run along the Cedar River Trail and will connect with supporters after the run The Spirit Fund assists men and women in eastern Iowa who have been diagnosed with cancer and are experiencing a financial need. Funds pay for services that support ongoing care (excluding cancer treatment drugs).

If you’d like to support this cause, please specify Spirit Fund/Jeff Garner when you give. You can use the postage paid business reply envelope enclosed or donate online at stlukesfoundation.com.

For answers to your questions, please call 319/369-7716.

Purchases benefit patients St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts gave St. Luke’s Auxiliary and St. Luke’s Hospital $80,000, representing the gift shop profits for 2012. “Thank you to our associates, physicians, volunteers, patients and guests for supporting the gift shop,” said Nancy Mortimore, president of St. Luke’s Auxiliary.

Presenting the check to Ted Townsend are (Left to right) Sharon Grosclaude, Floral & Gift Shop assistant; Nancy Mortimore, Auxiliary president; Noelle Boardman, Floral & Gift Shop assistant; and Karen King, Floral & Gift Shop manager.

The profits from every purchase made in 2012 helped fund the new family room and kitchenette in the Ed and Joan Hemphill Hospice Unit. St. Luke’s Floral & Gifts has been the largest fundraising arm for the Auxiliary since it first opened in 1951. Its fundraising success is possible thanks to 65 hospital and auxiliary volunteers working alongside several staff members. “The staff and volunteers at the gift shop provide a helpful service to our visitors and associates,” Mortimore said.

If you are interested in volunteering in the gift shop, please call 319/369-7322.

Generosity | Fall 2013 | 1

Your first

gift

F

irefighters doing good for the community is no surprise.

That they’re having so much fun doing it – well, why not? The whole purpose of Fire Bowl IV, the Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation flag football fundraiser, is to start up Sparky’s Truck. It’s a project meant to bring joy to families during a difficult experience – long hospital stays in St. Luke’s Birth Care Center, Pediatric unit or Newborn Intensive Care unit (NICU).

A bright spot for families “St. Luke’s has over 500 pediatric patients a year,” said Sean Beard, chair of the Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation. “We felt something should be done for pediatric patients in Cedar Rapids.

Let’s get some technology in their hands.

Things to distract them from the tests, shots and IVs. Let them have a little fun.”

“It’s never easy to be in the hospital,” explained Karla Pisarik, St. Luke’s employee and program coordinator for Sparky’s Truck. Children and families will have interactive games and toys, such as Kindles, iPads and iPods, brought to their hospital rooms in a miniature fire

(L to R) Kurt Kroemer, Landon Merkle and Sean Beard initiated the Fire Bowl after their rookie year as firefighters. This year’s proceeds go to Sparky’s Truck at St. Luke’s to bring a bright spot to children and their families.

2 | stlukesfoundation.com

truck. In addition, hospitalized children will receive gifts for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. Gift cards will be available to help alleviate the cost of transportation for families who need assistance in order to be together during an extended stay.

“Sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference,” Pisarik said. “Expectant moms on bed rest for weeks and weeks may get a pizza party at the hospital for their family. There might be two more kids at home missing mom. Getting the family together is important.”

“Sparky’s Truck will be a bright spot for the entire family – something to look forward to and to relieve a little bit of stress for all of the kids.”

Christina Kroemer, former NICU mom Cedar Rapids firefighters know firsthand the hardships and stress of an extended hospital stay. Firefighter Kurt Kroemer and his wife, Christina, had twins (pictured on the cover) who spent over a month in the NICU when they were born April 7, 2011, both weighing three pounds, eight ounces. Arriving eight weeks early, the twins needed to learn to breathe and eat on their own, gain weight and develop more before being ready to go home.

“It was a stressful situation at first.

St. Luke’s did a good job of helping keep our family close at hand while our twins were there,” Kurt said. In addition to twins, Nile and Wynne, the Kroemers have two daughters, 14-year-old Brylee and 6-year-old Blakelyn. “We had our family up there as much as possible.

Sparky’s Truck would have made it more fun for them to be there,” he said.

“I tell so many people that our experience at St. Luke’s was awesome. It’s hard to manage a family with twins in the NICU and two older children at home, but it was great to be in an atmosphere where the whole family was welcome.

Our daughters got to spend lots of time with the babies once they got out of their closed cribs, and they were treated wonderfully by the staff,” Christina said.

“Kurt and I are really passionate about this program because, as awesome as St. Luke’s was, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that the older siblings are affected by the experience, too. They can be just as stressed and worried as the parents and patients. Sparky’s Truck will be a bright spot for the entire family – something to look forward to and to relieve a little bit of stress for all of the kids.”

Beard explained, “Our hope is Sparky’s Truck helps the entire family.”

Fire Bowl IV This year the Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation chose the Helen G. Nassif Center for Women’s and Children’s Health as the recipient of the proceeds for their September 22 Fire Bowl, a charity 7-on-7 flag football tournament that gathers teams from the community to play each other on Coe College’s Clark Field. Their fundraising goal is $50,000 to start up Sparky’s Truck, which provides kids and their families with technology, games and gift cards during hospitalizations. “We’re looking for community support,” said Firefighter Kurt Kroemer.

To support Sparky’s Truck, please use the enclosed postage paid business reply envelope or visit stlukesfoundation.com. When making your gift, please specify Sparky’s Truck.

For more information, call St. Luke’s Foundation at 319/369-7716.

St. Luke’s

Truck

A bright spot for families CEDAR RAPIDS FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION

Generosity | Fall 2013 | 3

Giving over

time

A

United Fire Group strives to be a good corporate citizen

visit to St. Luke’s Child Protection Center (CPC) several years ago inspired United Fire Group’s Randy Ramlo, president & CEO, and Mike Wilkins, executive vice president, to include CPC in their corporate donations. The CPC serves abused children and their families, working in coordination with law enforcement and the Department of Human Services.

“As a company, United Fire Group believes we have a responsibility to give back to the communities where we live and work.

We feel by helping to address problems in our community, we all benefit. Just as we have committed to serving our agents and policyholders, we strive to be a good “We thought it was a great cause. At that corporate citizen, serving through the volunteer efforts of our employees and time, there had been some changes to the law that allowed the taped testimony through our corporate giving. Giving back to the community is an important tradiof a child to be used in court. Also, the topic of services offered by CPC were very tion at United Fire Group – one that began with our company’s founding family, the current because of events surrounding the murder of Jetseta Gage,” Ramlo said. McIntyres,” Ramlo said.

“Since our visit to CPC, we have given every year. There was, and still is, a great United Fire Group focuses their corporate giving on social service organizations and need for this service. It is unique to the prefers to fund overhead expenses rather area.” than brick and mortar projects. “Though this is the least glamorous form of givUnited Fire Group has been giving to St. Luke’s Foundation for nearly 20 years. ing, we think it is the most important.

They’ve given to Hospice and the general We want the organizations to the use our donation as they wish, to support what Opportunity Fund in addition to CPC. they do best,” Ramlo explained.

Randy Ramlo, president & CEO United Fire Group

“ We feel by helping to address problems in our community, we all benefit.”

Randy Ramlo, president & CEO United Fire Group

St. Luke’s Foundation is lucky to have many corporate partners.

To learn more about how your company can partner with the Foundation, please call 369-7716 or visit stlukesfoundation.com.

Serving the medical needs of our rural communities St. Luke’s Foundation’s Rural Healthcare Grants help fund vital equipment and emergency medical training for programs in rural communities, which are most often staffed by volunteers and receive minimal funding. This year the selection committee awarded seven matching-fund grants totaling $10,889.

To learn more about the St. Luke’s Foundation Rural Health Grant Program, call 319/369-7716.

Benton County Volunteer Program

Assisted Medical Transportation

Training Mannequins (adult and pediatric)

Clarence Ambulance Volunteer Association 4 | stlukesfoundation.com Jefferson-Monroe Fire Department

Martelle Fire Department

North Benton Ambulance Service

RSVP of Jones County

Volunteer Services of Cedar County

Training for one EMS Student Defibrillator Stair Chair Elderly Outreach Transportation Program Assisted Medical Transportation

Legacy

locally – the passion gift Acting of Carl and Mary Koehler

M

oving 1,800 miles across the country in 1988 – from Southern California to Iowa – Carl and Mary Koehler chose their retirement community with criteria that included a high rating for education and quality healthcare. Cedar Rapids was a community where the couple could quickly establish deep roots. “This seemed like an up-and-coming place,” Mary said in the 1994 Foundation newsletter Momentum.

Both Iowa natives, the Koehlers had been living in Southern California for 46 years, initially moving when Carl was stationed there as a U.S. Navy pilot. He later became a commercial pilot for American Airlines and also acquired and managed residential income property. They raised their son, David, (who now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio) in California and would have remained there but a severe earthquake in 1987 damaged their home and property as well as their desire to stay. They returned to Iowa in 1988.

The Koehlers involvement with St. Luke’s began just a few months after arriving in Cedar Rapids. Mary, a former journalism professor at California State University at Fullerton, volunteered her writing talents and initiated the first Foundation newsletter. She continued a variety of volunteer activities over the years, and Carl joined the Foundation Board of Directors and served on the finance and investment committee.

The couple gave annually to the Foundation, giving to St. Luke’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation gym, Child Protection Center, Hospice and the Opportunity (General) Fund.

In the 1994 Momentum newsletter, the Koehlers discussed their involvement with St. Luke’s Foundation: “We’ve had the opportunity to meet and visit with people about what goes on behind the scenes,” Mary said. “There are few things more important than health. If you can bolster the health system, you’ve done something worth doing.”

Koehler Legacy Society Koehler Legacy Society members have named St. Luke’s in their estate plans during their lifetime. The types of gifts recognized by the Koehler Legacy Society include: • Bequests made in the donor’s will or a codicil to the will or living trust •

Gifts from which the donor receives a life income in return (unitrusts, annuity trusts, gift annuities or some similar planned gift arrangement)

• Gifts of life insurance •

Beneficiary designation on retirement assets, certificate of deposit, com- mercial annuities, savings accounts or similar funds

• The gift of a home or farm with a retained life estate To join, contact Heidi Sloan, Director of Development at 319/369-7807.

“It gives us a lot of pleasure to see our donations being used locally where we can see it helping,” Carl explained.

The Koehlers gave more than $1.1 million to St. Luke’s Foundation. Carl passed away in 1996 and Mary passed away in 2007. The Koehler Legacy Society was created in 2003 to honor Carl and Mary’s generous spirit.

Elaine Young, Koehler Legacy Society member and former St. Luke’s intensive care head nurse, says:

“I’ve had a wonderful career, and I’m glad it was at St. Luke’s in nursing. We give wonderful spiritual, physical and emotional care. Now, what I can’t do physically, I do otherwise. That’s what life is all about.”

Generosity | Fall 2013 | 5

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New Foundation staff Heidi Sloan, director of development, St. Luke’s Foundation, began her position with the Foundation on June 11. She graduated from Arizona State and has nearly eight years of experience working in fundraising, most recently with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, where she was regional development director of eastern Iowa. Before that she worked as a campaign manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Las Vegas, Nevada, and as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Heidi Sloan

Sloan is excited about the opportunity to grow support for St. Luke’s and the Foundation in Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas. “St. Luke’s mission really resonates with me,” Sloan said. “I look forward to stewarding our donors so they feel part of our success and building relationships with new donors.”

Jen Perkins, accountant, St. Luke’s Foundation, grew up in Marion, Iowa, graduated from Mount Mercy University with an accounting degree and has ten years of experience. She began her position at the Foundation on May 6 after working as a financial analyst and grants accountant for Kirkwood Community College and before that as an accountant at Transamerica (formerly Aegon).

“At the Foundation, you get to see things full circle. You see how the funds are raised and how they’re used,” Perkins said. She’s in charge of all accounting needs for St. Luke’s Foundation.

Jen Perkins

St. Luke’s Foundation Mission To support St. Luke’s in giving the healthcare we’d like our loved ones to receive.

St. Luke’s Foundation Board Terri Christoffersen, Chair Shirley Holtey, Vice Chair Steve Allsop, Past Chair Bill Hochstetler, Secretary Ryan Buresh, Treasurer Kenneth Anderson, MD Sondy Daggett Sally Gray Phil Hershner Marty Hoeger James LaMorgese, MD Dina Linge Gene Neighbor Lon Olejniczak Diane Ramsey Sarah Rheinschmidt Paula Roby Nancy Skogsbergh Ted Townsend, St. Luke’s Hospital President and CEO Milt Aunan, St. Luke’s Hospital CFO

Foundation Staff Mary Klinger, President Tonya Arnold, Grants Manager Megan Moffitt, Annual Fund Manager Karen Newland, Administrative Assistant Jen Perkins, Accountant Heidi Sloan, Director of Development

For estate planning purposes, our legal name is St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation.

St. Luke’s Foundation, 855 A Ave. NE, Suite 105, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 • 319/369-7716 • fax 319/369-8822 • stlukesfoundation.com