ACH Launches Public Phase of $18 Million Campaign

Friday, April 11, 2014

BOARDMAN, Ohio -- Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley is launching the public phase of its multi-year campaign, Building on the Promise: A Vision for Our Valley’s Children. The goal is to raise $18 million in philanthropic support to finance strategic growth and expansion in the Mahoning Valley.

The quiet phase of the campaign, which began last year, has raised nearly $6 million in gifts and commitments, says Bruce Beeghly, co-chairman the Vision leadership committee. The other co-chairmen are his wife, Nancy, and Paul and Sallie Tod Dutton.

“Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley has made -- and continues to make -- a strong investment in our community,” Bruce Beeghly said. “It requires an investment by our community to continue the growth and care we provide the children in the Mahoning Valley. Today, we have a solid plan to help make that happen.”

“Our goal is to raise the full amount by December 2018,” Paul Dutton added. “That will be in time to celebrate the hospital’s 10th anniversary.”

The campaign will include dollars raised from all areas of fundraising during the next five years including major gifts and grants, annual fund, special events and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals sponsors. Funds raised will be used to focus on four priorities:

• Facility and Campus Improvements: Current projects include the neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery projects.
•  Mahoning Valley Fund: This consists of basic needs such as charity care, unreimbursed programs and services and outreach and wellness programs.
• Endowment and Planned Gifts.
•  People and Programs: Funds raised here will create educational opportunities and scholarships for staff members and bring new services and clinical care to the region.

The campaign cabinet consists of members of the Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Community Leadership Council and other business and community leaders. In addition to the Beeghlys and Duttons, the campaign cabinet includes James H. and Linda Sisek, vice-chairmen, and committee members Don and Gloria Cagigas, Terrance Cloonan, Bill Cushwa, attorney Jim Davis, Chuck Eddy, Merv Hollander, Barry Hollis, Katherine Kennedy, Connie Knecht, the Rev. Lewis Macklin, Suzanne Myers, Michael Senchak, Reid Schmutz and Jason Wilson.

Sisek, chairman of Farmers Trust Co., announced a commitment of $3 million from the Kikel Charitable Trust in support of the campaign. The commitment represents a combination of projected annual distributions along with an additional $1 million pledge that will be paid through the duration of the campaign.

Other lead gifts for the campaign:

• $1 million from Eleanor Watanakunakorn in support of the special care nursery project on the Beeghly campus.  to be named in honor of her granddaughter Alexis Caroline Watanakunakorn.
• $250,000 from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mahoning Valley and Western PA to create a McFamily Respite Center within the new Akron Children’s Hospital NICU at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center.
• More than $200,000 from the Tod and Dutton families in major and planned gifts. The support and commitment of the Tod Family to the children of the Mahoning Valley will be recognized by naming the Beeghly campus’ main lobby in Building D the Tod Family Lobby.
• $100,000 from the SJK Foundation in support of the new NICU at St. E’s Boardman.
• $100,000 from the Women’s Board of Youngstown.
• $95,000 from the estate of MaryJo Derenzo.
• $34,000 from the Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation.
• $25,000 from the estate of James E. “Ed” Thompson.
• $25,000 from The Youngstown Foundation.

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley employees committed more than $175,000 during the recent “My Promise, My Children” employee campaign.

With current gifts raised during 2013 as well as commitments, $5,984,177 of the $18 million campaign goal has been reached. 

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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