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  • MRH building for the future, announces charitable foundation

    By Shelley Farrington   Lincoln News • October 1, 2020

    KATAHDIN REGION – Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) has a long history of serving citizens in the Katahdin region and those citizens have long supported MRH. Through many difficult times that partnership has sustained both the region and local healthcare services.

    As the Katahdin region reinvents itself and moves forward MRH is moving forward as well and is excited to announce the establishment of a new foundation – the Legacy Medical Foundation – designed to develop a comprehensive philanthropy and stewardship effort.

    According to a press release from MRH, the LMF will be led by Millinocket native Michael Crowley. As its president, Crowley brings more than 40 years to the world of philanthropy working for both the University of Maine System and Northern Light Health Foundation (formerly Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems). Working for NLHF, Crowley developed programming that raised over $190,000,000 for Children’s Miracle Network and capital campaigns for the Lafayette Cancer Center in Brewer, EMMC’s new main hospital pavilion, dialysis centers in three different cities and expanding the endowment portfolio from $700,000 to $10,000,000.

    “The LMF will work to support the preservation and expansion of services which will uphold the legacy that is MRH,” said Mellissa McAvoy, MRH Board President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. “To that end, the foundation will develop, expand and coordinate multiple forms of fundraising on behalf of MRH.”

    All foundation initiatives will be focused on expanding access to care and wellness services provided in the Kathadin region.

    The LMF will be led by a community board that will work with the MRH Board of Trustees. Fundraising will include annual giving campaigns, special events, planned giving and capital campaigns.

    “Our new initiative will enable donors to confidently support our healthcare delivery today and building on a vision for the future of healthcare in the region,” said Bob Peterson, D. Sc., FACHE, MRH Chief Executive Officer in a press release.

    Crowley said he’s proud to be able to use his skills and experience to help his hometown hospital grow.

    “Millinocket Regional Hospital is my healthcare provider,” Crowley said, “in fact, MRH has been taking care of four generations of my family. Using my experience to bridge funder interests to the MRH mission is the newest chapter of my family relationship with MRH. Strengthening this essential community asset is humbling; I look forward to meeting and working with the talented women and men at MRH. I already have a personal connection with the community legacy of MRH.”

    Peterson said “MRH has a time-honored tradition to sustain and grow inpatient and primary care at the Millinocket hospital campus, wellness and therapies at White Birch Medical Center, and Walk-In Care in East Millinocket. Private support will enable us to further develop these vital community assets and resources for the next generation of care at MRH.

    “The hospital and its leadership team are committed to providing care aligned with community needs and offering a broad range of wellness initiatives throughout the Katahdin region for years to come. The establishment of a charitable foundation will broaden the diversity of funding in support of patient care, in patient services and community wellness programming.

    “We are building on the origin of MRH, initially Millinocket Community Hospital, which has traditionally been the beneficiary of long-term vision and personal investment. This is the legacy of MRH.”

    For more information on the LMF contact Crowley at mcrowley@mrhme.org or visit the MRH website at www.mrhme.org/legacy