FRHS GALA — INVESTMENT: PEOPLE

Saturday night was a grand night for raising funds as nearly 200 men and women came out in support of the local health care facility. The result? $105K raised for a new endowment.

In front of a backdrop of banners promoting the theme of the night — Strengthening Rural Healthcare Together — Emily Hofer offers remarks on behalf of the Wyona Hofer family, the presenting sponsor of the evening. Pictured on the far left is Tabitha Schoenwald, the FRHS marketing and foundation director. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDSEY UNRUH

JEREMY WALTNER  –  PUBLISHER

It wasn’t long after the Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) Foundation was established that, in 2010, its biggest fundraiser was launched — a formal gala designed to raise money that would directly impact the local health care facility, which since 1952 has been serving the Freeman community and its surrounding area.

Thirteen thousand dollars was raised that first year to go directly toward the foundation.

In the 14 years thereafter, proceeds were used to help fund improvements to the physical plant and equipment, from a tub room in the nursing home to EKG units at the clinics to emergency room updates at the hospital.

This year marked a shift.

At this year’s FRHS Foundation Gala, celebrated Saturday night, Jan. 25, all proceeds went, not to things, but to people — specifically, the establishment of the Strengthening Care Endowment to help further the education of FRHS employees.

That message was on full display as 200 guests came together at a well-decorated Freeman Community Center for an evening of food, fellowship and giving under the theme, “Investing in a Healthy Future.”

And when it was all said and done, this year’s fundraising effort proved to be the biggest yet, as $105,000 in profit will be used to help establish the endowment.

“Huge,” said Tabitha Schoenwald, who is in her third year as marketing and foundation director at FRHS and once again provided much of the heavy lifting in preparation for the event that last year raised $68,000. “I don’t know how to explain it; it’s just the generosity of people. If you ask (CEO Courtney Unruh), she thinks the project — the endowment and us supporting our people — was a big part of it.

“Courtney likes to give me the credit, but it’s the people,” Schoenwald continued. “I told her I was going to have to quit because I don’t know how we can top this.”

This year’s gala had raised more than $80,000 in sponsorship support even before Saturday’s night’s to-do began, including $10,000 from the Wyona Hofer family in her memory — the presenting sponsor of the night.

Another $12,000 gift came from Belva Laughlin in memory of her mother, Alma Wollman, and her husband, Mike Laughlin, and Belva traveled from Idaho to be in attendance.

And nearly 50 other sponsors stepped forward with gifts ranging from $200 up to $6,000.

At the gala itself, funds were raised through a silent and live auction and an additional opportunity to give more, including through cash donations and bingo cards.

“Tonight, during the gala, your generosity will contribute to my favorite part of Freeman Regional — the people — the team,” Unruh said in her opening remarks, noting it was the support and encouragement of others that helped push her into taking the job of FRHS CEO, a job she didn’t initially want. “So I’m telling you, write the notes. Send the cards. Someone needs that encouragement and affirmation more than you’ll ever know.

“That’s the culture we’ve worked really hard to build at Freeman Regional,” Unruh continued. “A culture that supports, encourages and inspires people to understand what they were made to be — what they were made to do where God planted them.”

Unruh named the leadership team in place and how it understands firsthand what it takes to grow and develop.

“It is our desire to continue to help everyone at Freeman Regional understand their worth, while supporting their professional growth and development,” she continued. “The Strengthening Rural Health Care Endowment will allow Freeman Regional to invest in our employees to ensure we are providing quality health care for years to come. The opportunity to pursue additional training and education fosters professional growth, enhances job satisfaction and ensures that our team remains equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of rural health care.”

Hofer: ‘Our family is honored’

Also speaking at the onset of the program was Emily Hofer, a granddaughter to the late Wyona Hofer, a third-generation banker at Merchants State Bank, and board president of the Freeman Community Foundation (FCF), a 27-year-old organization that also uses an endowment to give back to the community through a twice-yearly cycle of grants.

“I’ve always thought this foundation should be an endowment,” said Hofer, who also works with Courtney Unruh on the FCF board and, months ago, began talking with her about an endowment for FRHS.

“Endowments are stable sources of funding that help organizations plan for the future,” Hofer said. “Often times endowments can supplement organizations during uncertain economic times and provide funding to new and forever-changing challenges.”

Hofer shared several statistics from the FCF “to illustrate the power of an endowment,” which preserves the principal investment while using earnings as funding for future projects.

The FCF fund to date stands at $1.4 million based on the initial $1 million investment.

In the 27 years it has existed, the FCF has given back to the community $475,000 in grants and scholarships.

“That’s a $1.9 million impact, through today, that that endowment has created for the community of Freeman,” Hofer said. “And with over $50,000 that we grant each year — and that number grows every year — in less than 10 years we will have given back more than the original $1 million contribution. And that entire balance will be there, and will be reinvested in projects and organizations in the community, long after all of us our gone. Because an endowment can live forever.”

Hofer said that her conversation with Unruh got her thinking about how her family could help support this cause, “because one thing I know for certain is that the greatest asset any organization has is not the brick and mortar. It’s not the technology or the gizmos and the gadgets. It’s not the name on the door. It’s the employees that keep all balls in the air. And in the case of Freeman Regional, it’s the employees that, day in and day out, demonstrate the core values of Freeman Regional with compassion, attitude, respect and excellence.”

Hofer said her grandma, who passed away last year at age 93, “used almost every service available from Freeman Regional,” including dignified hospice care at the end of life.

“Over the years, time and again, she would offer stories about the great care she received from staff at Freeman Regional, during all those stages of life,” she said. “And, as a family, we are forever grateful for the services offered to her — in our community — and the outstanding care she received on her life’s journey.”

Hofer referenced a Facebook post made by her sister, Laura, in the weeks leading up to the gala, about their grandma.

“Grandma Wyona dedicated her life to supporting her family, her church and her community,” the post read. “She also instilled in all of us that, for those who are given much, much is expected.” Emily continued:

“It is in that spirit that our family is honored to support the formation of this fantastic endowment to recognize the staff for their excellent care, to thank Freeman Regional for the care of our community’s residents, from generation to generation, and to be tonight’s presenting sponsor.”

Laughlin shares testimony

Also sharing a testimony was Belva Laughlin, whose parents, Reuben and Alma Wollman, farmed 12 miles northwest of Freeman and was born at the Freeman Maternity Home; she was delivered by Dr. Ernest J. Hofer, who was instrumental in the construction of the Freeman Community Hospital in the early 1950s.

“Freeman Regional Health Services played a vital role in the life of my mother her last four years,” said Laughlin, who moved away from the community after graduating from Freeman Academy in 1969. “Living in a small town there is this feeling of family, and that does extend into the health care setting, as well. I felt that very much when I visited my mother.”

Laughlin also noted the loss of her husband 16 months ago, when her husband, Mike, drowned while they were kayaking together.

“When I returned to Freeman, I was absolutely treated like family,” she continued. “I was Belva’s daughter, and staff knew me and knew what had happened; I didn’t have to say a word. I was so comforted by your condolences and your hugs and your love.

“That was a big part of helping me heal, and I was glad to add my contribution to Freeman Regional to honor and remember my husband, Mike Laughlin.”

Friend of the Foundation, etc.

This year’s gala also included the second-ever Friends of the Foundation Award, which last year was presented to Ken Wintersteen, the longtime volunteer auctioneer who, just a few months later, would die from cancer.

This year’s award was presented to Merchants State Bank, which agreed to match up to $5,000 of bingo proceeds — a new game to this year’s gala in which the winner had a choice of any item on the block.

To that end, the gala also once again featured a silent auction of 102 items and a live auction of 12 that included a five-night stay at the Black Hills that brought $3,000 and a “principal for a day” at Freeman Elementary that brought $2,100.

The live auction also featured the sale of a dozen eggs as tribute to Wintersteen — one of his signature sales. The eggs were sold in smaller lots and raised just under $4,000.

The gala also once again featured beer, wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music provided by Amber Hopkins, and an inspiring message by professional speaker V.J. Smith.