Congratulations, Chris and Lara Duininck! At the annual Donor Recognition dinner, the Foundation presented the 2017 Tradition of Caring award to Chris and Lara for their generous support for Rice Memorial Hospital.

Chris and Lara have lived in Willmar for 25 years.  Chris grew up in Prinsburg and Lara in Southern California.  They fell in love at Wheaton College and eventually married and moved to Willmar.  Chris works for Duininck Inc., a family owned business.  They have three children – the youngest graduating from Willmar Senior High this June.  The other two are college graduates and are currently employed in Southern California.

Chris and Lara are passionate about using the gifts and talents they have been given to bless their church and community. They feel strongly that it is important to live a life serving others and giving back.

Thank you for all your gifts of time, talent and treasure, Chris and Lara.

Rice Regional Dental Clinic was established in 2007, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, to train dental students and to meet the critical need of area residents with no access to dental services. Before the Dental Clinic opened, many of those patients sought help in the Hospital’s Emergency Department.

The Clinic has performed over 140,000 dental procedures on more than 13,000 patients from 17 counties. Patients include senior citizens on fixed incomes, the mentally ill and developmentally challenged, infants and children, and low-income working families.

Your generosity will help provide healthy smiles for thousands in the region.

Everyone deserves a smile.

This year’s financial goal is $300,000. The money we raise will allow Rice Memorial Hospital to provide community oral health services for those who have no access.

The NEW Rice Rehabilitation Center at Rice Memorial Hospital

The new 10,800 square foot Rice Rehabilitation Center brings all programs and services under one roof, providing convenient access for patients, visitors, and providers. It includes a gym for adults and one for children, locker rooms, showers, and a 4-person, variable-depth pool with an adjustable floor for easy access.

Rice Health Foundation’s Restoring Health . . . Restoring Hope capital campaign was a HUGE success. The campaign raised $1.6 million, helping make this project a reality in less than 12 months!  Thanks to everyone who made a gift and volunteered their time to provide an incredible space for pediatric services.

On May 19th, Rice Health Foundation recognized and thanked 92 donors for their commitment to and support of Rice Memorial Hospital.  During the event, the Harvey & Delores Pierce family was presented with the Foundation’s 7th Tradition of Caring Award, in recognition of their generosity to healthcare in our community.

John O’Neill, a graduate of the Cardiac Rehab program, and member of the Tri4evr Triathlon & Running Club, shared his story of going from flat-line to finish-line was truly inspirational!

Trustee and Board Chair, Lara Duininck was recognized for concluding her 9 years of service to Rice Health Foundation.  Lynn Johnson, Director of Nursing at Ridgewater College, was introduced as a new Board Trustee, beginning her tenure in June.

Rice Health Foundation of Rice Memorial Hospital recently purchased an Automated External Difibrillator (AED) for the Barn Theatre. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for someone with no medical background. The Foundation teamed up with their downtown neighbor, to make this life-saving equipment available for their many patrons. Rice’s Emergency Services is just down the street, but every second counts when sudden cardiac arrest strikes.

AEDs have been available throughout Kandiyohi County for several years. The Kandiyohi County Defib Coalition has been in place for over 15 years and has distributed over 150 Automatic External Defibrillators in Kandiyohi County and surrounding counties.  From the beginning, the Coalition considered requests from locations where AEDs were needed based on ambulance response time and by the population using the location. More than a dozen placed with non-profits and in public locations were made possible with designated funds raised by Rice Health Foundation.

Rice Employees have rallied together and hit their $100,000 goal out of the park, raising to date:

$112,390!

Thank you to all employees, community members, and business owners who have already made gifts.

If you have yet to make a gift, JOIN the TEAM – the GAME is not over. Your gift will help reach the Rice Rehab Campaign goal of $1.5 million. We are currently at $1,352,568 – with less than  $150,000 needed to WIN the GAME!