Funds to Support Parents with Hope and Level III NICU Transport Team
The Friends of Saint Francis presented Saint Francis Medical Center with $160,000 during The Friends’ annual banquet, supporting the Parents With Hope fund and the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) transport team at Saint Francis. Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, Saint Francis President and Chief Executive Officer, accepted the donation from Dan Atkinson, vice president of The Friends Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled with the results from the two golf tournaments and other fundraising efforts that enable us to benefit the Medical Center,” says Litzelfelner. “Everyone worked very hard this year, and that support paid off.”
The Parents With Hope fund provides financial assistance to families of premature or critically ill newborns in the Level III NICU at Saint Francis. The Level III NICU is equipped to care for the smallest and most critically ill newborns, and serves families throughout the region. Many travel long distances and spend months away from home and work while their children receive care. Some are not able to see their babies often because they cannot afford gas or a hotel room. Parents With Hope provides financial assistance for transportation, housing and day care needs during a newborn’s stay.
The Level III NICU at Saint Francis also provides transport services for premature infants and newborns throughout the region. About 10 percent of pregnancies have the potential for requiring NICU care and more than half of the babies in Saint Francis’ Level III NICU are transports from outside facilities. The transport team safely and expertly transports nearly 125 babies a year from more than 11 outlying hospitals. Each transport carries a highly skilled Level III NICU team to move critically ill infants to Saint Francis by helicopter or ambulance. Shortened transport time leads to improved outcomes for the most critically ill newborns.
In addition to the check presentation, The Friends honored its 26th Honorary Lifetime Member, Janet Esicar. Esicar served as a Friends Board member for more than a decade, sitting as its president for a one-year term. Since the conclusion of her Friends tenure in 2008, she has been an integral Foundation Board member, currently serving as its chair. Esicar has been a committed volunteer coordinator and supporter for both the Ken Hayden Memorial Golf Tournament and the Benefit Golf Tournament.
Michelle Litzelfelner, president of The Friends, and Lisa Newcomer were honored by the Medical Center for their service to The Friends Board. Litzelfelner has been on the Board since 2005, serving two consecutive terms (2010 and 2011) as president of The Friends of Saint Francis. Newcomer has served on the Board since 2009.
The Saint Francis Foundation presented the Go-getter Award to Jason Coalter, The Friends Board member and vice president at The Printing Co. This award is given to a Friends Board member who goes above and beyond in promoting The Friends mission.
The Friends assists Saint Francis Foundation in providing services and financial assistance to the Medical Center. Formally organized in 1975, The Friends offers unique fund-raising events that have enabled it to donate more than $2 million in support of the Medical Center. The Friends Board is composed of people from the community and employees who are committed to serving the Medical Center in an active way.
Dan Atkinson (left), vice president of The Friends of Saint Francis Board of Directors, presents Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, Saint Francis Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer, with a $160,000 check from The Friends. This donation will support the Parents With Hope fund and the Level III NICU transport team.