Maine Coast Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Trustees has approved a grant to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital (MCMH) totaling $100,000 in support of the F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. Emergency Center Capital Campaign.  The Campaign began in the summer of 2008 and has received exceptional support from the community - both individuals and businesses.  Over the past twelve months, over $2.5 million of support has been provided to bring the total Campaign to within two percent of the $5 million goal.  The Campaign was successful in meeting a $500,000 challenge grant between December 15, 2009 and May 31, 2010.  The Foundation’s grant to benefit the Campaign was made on June 30 to coincide with the end of the organization’s 2010 fiscal year.

Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Board Chair and Capital Campaign Chair Robert D. Merrill was excited to learn the news of the Foundation’s spending to benefit the Emergency Center project.  “This gift from the Foundation is tremendous and the Campaign Committee is diligently working to secure the remaining philanthropic support to meet the $5 million goal,” said Merrill.

The Foundation’s Board Chair John P. Lynch explained that the Foundation Trustees provided careful oversight of philanthropic gifts received by the Foundation over the past five years and was pleased to announce the continued support of the Hospital.  Lynch stated, “the spending as recommended by the Foundation’s Investment Committee and approved by the Board recognizes the critical importance of meeting the Campaign goal.  The Trustees fully appreciate that Maine Coast Memorial Hospital could not have accomplished the construction of the new Center without the community’s support and the Foundation is doing its part to help meet the goal”.

Grants made by the Healthcare Foundation support patient care, education, technology and facilities at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital.

Maine Coast Healthcare Foundation was established in 2003 for the purpose of promoting, fostering and financially assisting Maine Coast Memorial Hospital and its affiliated clinics in Ellsworth, Gouldsboro, Somesville and Southwest Harbor.  Gifts to the nonprofit Foundation are provided by those who recognize the tremendous need to sustain excellence in healthcare in our region of coastal Maine.