Hospital foundation 'bridges gap' in fundraising

COLFAX - The Whitman Hospital Foundation raised more than $16,000 to cover a gap between a coronavirus relief grant and their annual auction tallies.

The "Bridge the Gap" campaign was launched in January.

"Right after Christmas, we usually operate in full auction mode," said Foundation Coordinator Becky Dickerson. "But the board understood that holding the auction was not an option this year. So, we reached out to our guest list to donate the equivalent of dinner tickets instead."

The campaign brought donations in by mail and online.

"P1FCU sent $60 for each of their four employees who would have sat at the same table," Dickerson said. "Two 2020 auction sponsors, Columbia Bank and Waddell & Reed sent donations before we even asked. This funded campaign costs. We had many generous surprises. Residents who believe Whitman Hospital must hold up against revenue lost by the pandemic."

Donations were added to the foundation's $6 million endowment, for which the aim is to start an annual revenue stream for the hospital.

"Inch by inch, donation by donation, the community wants to keep a local, state-of-the-art hospital available for Whitman County residents," Dickerson said.

In the last weeks of the campaign, the McGregor Company called Dickerson to ask about the campaign progress and she told them they were "a little over $5,000" short. The company then wrote the check to bridge the gap.