MCH MONADNOCK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Date: 19 Jul 2005
Contact: Nancy Clarke, Community Relations (603)924-1702

MCH Receives Record Gift

Peterborough, NH - Hoping to inspire others to donate to Monadnock Community Hospital, Herbert T. Nilson of Antrim has given the largest gift in the 82-year history of the hospital, a $1 million charitable bequest to be dedicated to the hospital's endowment fund. Hospital CEO Peter Gosline said the hospital is overwhelmed with the gift. "When the board of directors first heard the news they jumped to their feet with a standing ovation, then had to take a deep breath," he said.

Nilson, a 34-year resident of Bass Farm in Antrim, said, "The current leadership of the hospital impressed me and got me to the point of where I am willing to be recognized for this. Herb is always there when I need him," Gosline said.Previously, he has been the lead sponsor of the annual hospital golf tournament as well as supporter of the annual Gala fundraiser."We don't intend to use this money immediately," Gosline said. "But will add it to our endowment fund.""Our budget has grown significantly over the last 10 years and our endowment needs to keep up," Gosline said. Currently, the operating budget is $50 million annually; the hospital employs 600.

In addition, Nilson's gift will ensure the long-term sustainability of the hospital's many outreach programs including Medication Bridge, Monadnock Healthy Teeth and the Financial Grant Program.

Nilson joins a long line of significant hospital supporters, starting with Mrs. Margaret Clement, who with a group of concerned citizens asked Robert M. Parmelee in 1918 to consider donating his estate for use as a hospital. Later that year, 251 citizens pledged a total of $10,000 a year for five years to provide supporting funds for the new hospital. In 1919, Parmelee gave his home and estate for use as a hospital, which opened in 1923.In 1953 Elizabeth Cheney Kaufmann left $500,000 to MCH, plus her home called "The Needles" in Peterborough. In 1969, the hospital received an anonymous bequest of another $500,000."I see this as a leading gift in our endowment fundraising effort," Gosline said. "A good endowment is critical to our operation today, it is the community's investment in our future."

"A healthy endowment is important with our financial status," MCH Director of Philanthropy Laura Gingras said. "People are most anxious to support a financially healthy organization."The endowment can only grow in one of three ways, Gosline said: by bequest, operation surplus or investment management. "It has not grown as much as I would like to see in the past and this gift will go a long way to cure that."A special reception is being planned by MCH to recognize this gift at a semi-formal celebration at Nilson's home, Bass Farm in Antrim, on July 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. Community members, hospital contributors, volunteers and employees are invited to attend. At Mr. Nilson's request, only adults over 18 are invited.In addition, the hospital will be naming the internal campus road "Bass Farm Way" as a remembrance of Nilson's generous gift. "At Bass Farm we treat people with the utmost respect, offer warm hospitality and keep things looking good," said Nilson. "This road will welcome all community members to a hospital that embodies those same ideals."Anyone planning on attending the event at Bass Farm should RSVP to Terry Kilvert at the hospital, 924-4699, ext. 1600, or via e-mail to terry.kilvert@mch.crhc.org.MCH has experienced great success in its fundraising efforts over the last decade. This year's annual fund goal of $300,000 was met, the $2.35 million capital campaign for the Wellness Center was met, and prior to that the $2.1 million capital campaign for enlarging the hospital was also met. "The community has always come through for us," Gosline said. "But we must dig deeper to continue this in the future."

[used with permission - Peterborough Transcript]

This Article was published on 19 Jul 2005. For more information, please contact
Nancy Clarke, Community Relations (603)924-1702