I have heard it said that the only constant is change. That may seem a little ironic, but it appears to be true.
For more than 120 years, FHN has served our region as an independent, stand-alone healthcare entity. As you likely heard recently, FHN has a pending affiliation with Mercyhealth. That is a change; however, the commitment to provide the best healthcare to the people we serve will not waver and this affiliation will only strengthen it.
Even with the pending affiliation, the FHN Foundation will continue. All of the dollars that we raise in the future, as well as what has been raised previously, will remain in our community to improve healthcare in our region, honoring the donor’s intention.
Healthcare is a key element of any community. Employers must be sure that their workers and family members have access to the care they need. Spouses want to ensure that their significant others can obtain quality healthcare services. Parents want the best care for their children. Beyond medical care, healthcare helps the economy; it provides both direct and indirect employment opportunities. Healthcare organizations also give back to their communities through sponsorship and support of events.
Our employees may be your friends, neighbors, and family members. We are here to support and reflect the values of the communities we serve - that is our promise and commitment.
Before the potential change in FHN’s status was announced, the FHN Foundation was focused on raising funds for a very important project - replacing the linear accelerator at the FHN Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center. The linear accelerator is a crucial for patients receiving radiation oncology treatments. I am excited to announce that with the affiliation announcement and the investment Mercyhealth is making, which will be added to the donations previously received, that project will now be completed. However, there are other needs that still need to be met, and even with Mercyhealth’s infusion of funding into various capital projects, the FHN Foundation still has a role to play. There are still more needs to be met that are important to the health and wellbeing of our community.
Prior to the announcement, I had been engaging with members of the community to obtain their feedback about potential future projects that the foundation could undertake. Since the FHN Foundation cannot fund every item, I wanted input from the public regarding the priority of potential projects. Through these conversations, one project stood out – purchasing new defibrillators for the healthcare system. That was the only project selected in the top three (3) priorities from every person who ranked all of the options that I presented.
If your heart stops beating or you have a life-threatening heart rhythm, you are in need of a defibrillator. A defibrillator is a medical device that delivers an electric shock to your heart to restore a normal heartbeat. When you are watching a medical television show and the actor who is portraying a doctor says “Clear!” a defibrillator is being utilized. A defibrillator can save your or your loved one’s life.
The FHN Foundation has now shifted its focus to raise funds to replace the defibrillators in the hospital. Through this replacement, numerous adults’ and children’s lives will be saved in our Emergency Department and throughout the hospital setting. The new defibrillators have enhanced features to ensure that while the patient is being monitored, documentation of the patient’s heart rhythm and any medications administered is recorded. See details.
Through your donation to replace defibrillators, you truly will be part of saving a life! The total cost to replace 15 defibrillators is $300,000. While this equipment has a cost, A PATIENT'S LIFE IS PRICELESS.
Please consider making a gift toward the purchase of the defibrillators. Whatever donation you can make toward this equipment will assist in providing better healthcare for each patient. Remember, the patient you help through your giving to this project may be a family member, friend, a loved one – or even yourself!
Thank you for making a difference in the health and wellness of the people in northwestern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin.
Yours Truly,
Al Evon
Executive Director, FHN Foundation
P.S. Remember, you may make your gift to FHN Foundation in honor of someone who is living and has impacted your life or in memorial to remember someone special. Additionally, all gifts postmarked by December 31, 2025, are eligible to be deducted from your income taxes. Besides a gift made by check or credit card, you may also choose to send us a gift, via a distribution from your Donor Advised Fund, or a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA. If you would like to donate other appreciated assets like stocks, please contact the FHN Foundation at 815-599-7213.