ER Campaign Cabinet: Getting the Job Done

The Campaign Cabinet: Among the 20 members of the Cabinet are (seated from left) Isabelle Firestone, Cathie Martin and Sondra Hardy and (standing from left) Hal VanSumeren, Ed Carlson, Fran Gingras, Bill Anderson, Jay Zrimec, Doug Wolf, George McManus, Jack Bay, and Chuck Havill.

When the Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation was asked to raise $10 million for a new Emergency Room at Munson Medical Center, it didn't have to look far for help.

Twenty individuals — including 10 members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees — responded enthusiastically, and became part of a key group now known as the Campaign Cabinet.

The Campaign Cabinet is an energetic group of well-connected community leaders who are also well-versed in fundraising. "It's a very dynamic group of people who are successful in their own right, and everybody is participating," said Campaign Co-Chair Bill Anderson. "Everyone is a shareholder in this project — they are having fun, but they are also taking it very seriously."

The Cabinet represents a good cross-section of the community, including those involved in business, social services, government, and medicine.

"This isn't just Munson's project," Anderson said. "This is a community asset investment. Everyone supports it because everyone will be touched by it. This is one of the biggest investments in the future we've seen yet."

The Cabinet meets monthly to report on progress made as fundraising efforts continue. By mid-November, more than $7.2 million had been raised.

"It's going better than any campaign I've ever worked on," said Cabinet member Sondra Hardy of Traverse City. "Even though there are lots of campaigns going on, this one seems to touch everybody and is something you can feel close to."

Hardy's own experience motivated her to become involved. "My husband was in and out of the Emergency Room several times and his treatment was so phenomenal. There was no question I would participate. This is our opportunity to give back and to prepare for the future for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

"It's been an amazing experience," Hardy said. "From John Rockwood on down everybody has been giving 150 percent of their time and effort for this."

ER Campaign Cabinet Members
Co-chairs
Bill Anderson
Tom McIntyre
George McManus

Members
Jack Bay
George Bearup
Dale Blum
Ed Carlson
Kyle Carr, MD
Isabelle Firestone
Fran Gingras
Sondra Hardy
Chuck Havill
Gene Keilitz
Cathie Martin
Ken Musson
Mary Raymer
Alice Shirley
Sally Stilwill
Hal VanSumeren
Doug Wolf