Thank you!

November 15, 2013 by RHFAdmin Leave a Comment

Proceeds from the 2013 Holiday Festival exceeded our goal of $140,000.00 and will be used to purchase new technology for improved breast diagnostic services at Rice Memorial Hospital. Your generous financial support, and deep commitment of time and talent, will make a tremendous difference for every single patient who will undergo a breast cancer diagnostic process.

Special thanks to the Pierce Family Foundation for their gift to underwrite this year’s Holiday Festival.

VIEW THE PHOTOS!

Gala and Auction

Table Setting Review

PRESENTING SPONSORS
$2,000 +

Affiliated Community Medical Centers
Chappell Central, Inc
Family Practice Medical Center
J.E. Dunn Construction
Lakeland Broadcasting
Rice Memorial Hospital Medical Staff
Taatjes Financial Group

PREMIER SPONSORS
$1,500 – $1.000

CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center
Duininck, Inc.
Family Eye Center
Family Surgery Center
Home State Bank
J.D. Kreps Financial Group, Inc.
Janning Ear, Nose & Throat Center, LLC
Minnesota Pathologists Chartered
Quam Construction Company, Inc.

PLATINUM SPONSORS
$1,200 – $1,499

Heritage Bank
Jennie-O

GOLD SPONSORS
$900 – $1,199

Bremer Bank
Heartland Orthopedic Specialists
Johnson, Moody, Schmidt & Kleinhuizen PA/Attorneys at Law
Medica
Medline
Northern Factory Sales, Inc
Perkins + Will
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

SILVER SPONSORS
$600 – $899

Bollig, Inc.
EideBailly Certified Public Accountants
Drs. Anita and Ken Flowe
Lake Region Bank
Marsh USA Inc.
McGladrey LLP
Steve and Connie VanDerBill Medin
Northern States Supply
Oral-Facial Surgery, P.A.
Plumbing & Heating of Willmar, Inc.
Rambow
Dr. Wilson and Barbara Salter
Michael and Rayette Schramm
Suburban Radiologic Consultants, LTD
Turbo Turf

BRONZE SPONSORS
$300 – $599

Dr. Douglas W. Allen
Allergy & Asthma Specialty Clinic
Anderson, Larson, Hanson & Saunders
Clayton and Nona Anderson
David and Susan Anfinson
Bennett Office Technologies
Greg Brock Consulting
Center for Diagnostic Imaging
Century 21 Kandi Realty, Ltd.
Concorde Bank
Conway, Deuth, & Schmiesing, PLLP
Jan and Hans Dahl
Bob and Patti Dols
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Duininck
Dunham
Gardner & White – A Division of
Gallagher Benefit Services
Insurance by Strehlow
Dr. Philip and Florine Iverslie
Kandi Roofing Company
Kevin Hallstrom DDS
Leonard, Street and Deinard
Mary and John Lindstrom
Loren and Smitty Luschen
Dorothy Timm Meili
Mercer Health & Benefits LLC
Michael R. Gardner, D.D.S.
Midwest Urologic Stone Unit
MMIC
Michael and Emilie Nicklawsky
Randall and Mary Jo Patton
Jon and Sophie Pederson
Piper Jaffray & Co.
Steven and Dawn Renquist
Ross G. Olness DDS PLLC
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar
Cooperative
Nathan and Wendy Streed
Dr. Jim Michels and Colleen Thompson
Michels
Dr. Jim and Marilynn Tiede
Tree-n-Turf
Dr. Kevin and Sandi Unger
United FCS
Universal Printing / Willmar Speedy Print
Eric and Alice Weiberg, Raymond James
Financial
Wells Fargo Advisors
West Central Sanitation
West Central Tribune
$100 – $299
Boline Fenstra Chiropractic
Lee and Sandra Duininck
Walter and Raeanna Gislason
Hansen Advertising, Inc.
Hennen Furniture
Jean and Todd Geselius
Michael and Mary Hodapp
Ron and Etta Holmgren
James Langmo
Lee’s Electric
Life Link III
Larry and Carol N. Monnens
Alvina Munneke
Suzanne and Marvin Napgezek
Bruce and Mary Schweitzer
Steven’s Shutter Shoppe
Pastor Mari Thorkelson and Patrick Foley
Robert and Joanne Thurston
United Prairie Bank

GATSBY COMMITTEE

The Holiday Festival can only go on through the enormous efforts of a fabulous volunteer planning committee. They meet months in advance and bring dozens of other volunteers on board to make it all come together: decorations, sponsors, table setters, vendors, musicians, and more. They work long hours without pay, all to benefit the health and wellness of our community – hats off to this year’s committee!

Event Chair

Jean Raatz

Committee Support

Sandra Gardner

Data Management

Linda Switzer

Entertainment

Sandy Roelofs
Rayette Schramm
Wendy Ulferts
Jacquie Johnson

Friends

Julie Bateman
Cathy Bays
Lynn Stier
Dayling Munoz Blanco

Gala Dinner & Luncheon Food

Jean Lindemann
Mary Ellen Zachman

Hosting Function

Barb Swenson

Live Auction

Shelly Huseby
June Boie
Shelly Woltjer
Susan Anfinson

Publicity

Joy Baker
Darci Mohr
Judy Tebben

Silent Auction

Lara Duininck
Cindy Mulder
Barb Abrams
Beth Johnston
Chloe Quinn
Jan Cole

Table Settings

Candy Smith
Sue Soderholm
Audrey Nelsen
Karla Tinklenberg

Theme & Decorating

Jean Geselius
Judy Treptau
Deb Van Buren
Merica Overcash
Dayling Munoz Blanco

Thank you to the following businesses and individuals for their in-kind support and assistance with the 2013 Holiday Festival.

Events by Beverly, Bev Dougherty ~ Linens & Ceiling Draping
Fladeboe Auctioneers, Kristine Fladeboe Duininck
North American State Bank ~ Tiffany-style Lamps
Abeln Family
Brian and Julie Asmus
The Barn Theater
Dennis Benson, Photography
Perry and Marge Breems
Shirley Carter
Chaplain Beverly Crute
Byron and Mari Damhof
Kathy Dillon
Jason Dougherty
Bri Dyson
Dale and Jonette Engan
Fenstra Real Estate
Dr. Ken Flowe
Foundation Board of Directors
Gala Dinner Guests
Ruth Gauquie
Luke Geiger, Graphic Design
Pat and Larry Groen
Donna Grover
Holiday Inn & Willmar Conference Center Staff
Hosts & Hostesses
Jacquie Johnson
Meg Junkermeier
Selena Klein
Ruth Koenen
Chad and Angela Koosman
Laurie’s Designs, Kim Brouwer
Tori Leitch
Long Lake Antiques
Bruce and Gayle Marcus
Rob Miller, IT Support
Musicians
Nate & Jessica Neal
Sue Olson
Amy Pawelk, Images by Amy Lynn
Barb Piasecki
ProColor Graphics, Matt Stark
Robin Raasch
Kevin Raatz
Review Guests
Linda Saunders
Deanna Savoie
Mary Seifert
Table Setters
Aane Twedt
Shannon VanDeRiet
Stacy’s Floral
Weddings on First
Whitney Music
Willmar Car Club
Matt Zupke

Rice Care Center offers dramatic change to the experience for its residents

July 15, 2013 by Rice Health Foundation Leave a Comment

By Anne Polta, West Central Tribune, Friday, July 12, 2013 —WILLMAR–The distances in the Rice Care Center’s newly renovated east wing are shorter for aging legs to walk. There are private rooms and baths, a dining room overlooking a garden, and a kitchen serving up meals and coffee whenever the residents want.

Most of all, the environment says “home.”When Bev Bruse accompanied a resident out to the garden on a recent morning to cut fresh roses, they began chatting about flowers.“I found out she really liked her gardening when she was at home,” said Bruse, the household coordinator for the skilled care facility’s east wing. Moments like this between residents and staff are among the many outcomes the Rice Care Center hopes to see as it makes the transition this year and next year into a redesigned facility.

The $6 million project is transforming not only the physical appearance of the 1960s-era nursing home but the resident experience as well. “It’s a total 180,” said Troy Barrick, Rice Care Center administrator. “It’s all for the residents.”

Read the full story at www.wctrib…

View the new campaign video

April 11, 2013 by Rice Health Foundation Leave a Comment

When you think about where you and/or your loved ones will receive long-term care, we’re certain you’d choose a place where your medical, emotional, physical, and psychosocial needs are compassionately met. A place you and your loved ones will be comfortable and feel proud to call home.

We invite you to say YES to a place where residents can live, laugh, thrive. Partner with us to raise $2 million dollars to ensure the environment of care is consistent with the quality of care you and your loved ones deserve.

Click here to watch video

Rice Foundation launches $2 million campaign for Rice Care Center

March 1, 2013 by Rice Health Foundation Leave a Comment

The Rice Health Foundation kicked off a two million dollar capital campaign on Thursday, February 28th for Rice Care Center, its long term care/nursing facility located on Willmar Avenue.

The renovation and expansion project is actually part of a larger construction plan that began in 2010. The first two phases of the plan included the construction of Therapy Suites, a 23 bed, short term care/rehabilitation facility located on the same campus as the long term facility. Therapy Suites celebrated its one year anniversary in August 2012 and has been awarded a national Citation of Merit from the Environments for Aging.

“We’re very proud of the work that went into Therapy Suites,” said Shirley Carter, Executive Director of the Rice Health Foundation. “Our patients love it, our staff loves it, and it’s making a definite impact on the short term residential care needs of our community. I think people have come to expect that when Rice does something, we do it right.”

The final three phases of the plan will cost $6 million. The plan includes extensive renovation and expansion of Rice Care Center. Rice Memorial Hospital purchased the long term care facility (which was then known as Christian Nursing Home) in 1994. The facility, which was built in the mid-1960s, has seen no major renovations since the original construction, almost 50 years ago.

“This is a project that’s been talked about by the Rice Hospital Board and Executives for a very long time,” said Carter. “With donor funds, we will finally be able to introduce the new industry standard of care for seniors in our community. This is very exciting!”

Perhaps no one is more excited than the residents themselves. Alvina Woltjer has been a resident at Rice Care Center for the past two and a half years. She has shared a double room during that time and is looking forward to having a room to herself. “Everyone is excited about the changes,” she said, “Especially the private bathrooms.”

Currently, Rice Care Center has 25 semi-private rooms with up to four residents sharing a bathroom, and everyone sharing two shower rooms and two bathing rooms.

“The facility was built during a different time… a different era,” said Troy Barrick, Administrator for Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites. “Today, seniors and their families are looking for a long term care facility that feels more like home and less like a hospital.”

Using feedback from residents, potential residents, care providers, and the community, Rice underwent a comprehensive market and facility assessment of Rice Care Center. And while it was revealed that the quality of care is second to none, the facility itself was lacking and obsolete.

The new facility will feature all private rooms with private showers and toilets. There will be 46 single occupancy rooms, plus two double occupancy rooms to accommodate couples. All rooms will feature the most up-to-date safety features for staff and residents, including an overhead lift system.

In addition, rooms will be located in neighborhoods with separate entrances for privacy and convenience. Neighborhoods will have gathering spaces for social activities, private events, as well as a beautiful garden to enjoy the outdoors.

Some community members wonder why private donations are necessary to help fund the renovation project.

“Rice Care Center is the only non-profit, community-owned, long term care facility owned by a hospital in our area,” said Carter. “Many people assume that because Rice is municipally-owned, it receives tax support from the City, but that’s not true.”

Carter goes on to say that community support demonstrates a shared vision of compassion and respect for seniors. “It shows that we care about their quality of life and what happens when they transition from home to long term care.”

Philanthropic support will also help reduce the amount of debt Rice Hospital will incur to meet this community need. The reduced debt will make the project economically feasible and free up resources for other health and wellness programs offered locally.

Barrick agrees. “As the Baby Boomers age, there will be a real need for long term care options in the Willmar community. In order for Rice to stay competitive and maintain our reputation for excellence, our community needs to get behind this effort. In the end, it’s a win-win for everyone.”

To date, the Rice Health Foundation is half way to meeting its $2 million goal. It has already received one million dollars in gifts, grants and commitments from Rice executives and directors, Foundation stakeholders, and private donors.

A $100,000 gift from the Otto Bremer Foundation was awarded on Thursday by MaryAnn Doyle, President of Bremer Bank in Willmar.

For more information, or to make a donation to the project, visit the Rice Health Foundation’s web site at www.ricehealthfoundation.org or call 320-231-4141.

2012 Holiday Festival Raises $115,000 for Rice Health Foundation

January 15, 2013 by Rice Health Foundation Leave a Comment

Everyone loves to have a good time, with good friends, for a good cause.

The community “stepped up” in strong support of Rice Health Foundation to raise a record-setting $115,000. With the help of many, many wonderful volunteers, and generous businesses and individuals, the Foundation’s 2012 Holiday Festival was a tremendous success.

The money raised this year will be used to create the new Activity Center at Rice Care Center and improve the caring environment for residents. This will be a comfortable, inviting space for multi-purpose activities and special events for residents, families, and friends. Group activities and gatherings offered in this room will bring life and laughter, and will help meet the spiritual, social, physical, and emotional needs of seniors in our community who reside at Rice Care Center.

The “Under the Big Top” theme transformed the Holiday Inn Conference Center into a magical vintage circus with a striped tented ceiling, clowns, a juggler, popcorn stand and a ring master. The two-day event began on Friday night with a Gala Dinner & Auction. On Saturday, guests could enjoy beautiful table settings, shop at a large variety of business vendor booths, listen to wonderful musical entertainment and enjoy a special holiday luncheon.