St. Michael’s Foundation provided over $100K in 2018
By Patrick Lynn
The numbers are in—St. Michael’s Foundation in 2018 handed out over $100,000 for health-related initiatives in 2018.
The foundation will continue to support the CAP Services Mental Health Navigator Program, something its done for nine years. According to a news release from the foundation, the program provides “assistance to those in our community with mental illness and facilitates access to health care for these individuals that they may not otherwise seek for themselves”.
Funding was also provided for cable gun locks, which will be distributed in St. Michael’s Hospital Urgent Care and Emergency Department.
The Breast Care Center of St. Michael’s Hospital also received funding for resources available for breast cancer patients including education handbooks and the COPE Online Library. Breast Cancer patients coming in for surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital also receive a fleece jacket, funded by St. Michael’s Foundation. The Angel Fund also paid the cost of seven mammograms for patients unable to afford the service in 2018.
The foundation also gave over $8,300 to St. Michael’s Hospital Cancer Center, which funded wigs for cancer patients, gas cards, or cab vouchers for patients traveling long distances for treatment or needing help with transportation, cancer education books, celebrating Christmas in Oncology with patients by giving ornaments and special treats, and funding a Pandora membership for patients to access during their treatments.
Since 2012, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Team placed Automated External Defibrillators in locations throughout our community where large gatherings are common. Since then, St. Michael’s Foundation has funded 12 AED’s at surrounding community buildings. In 2018, St. Joseph’s Parish in Stevens Point received a unit.
A Lucas 3 Compression Device was also purchased for St. Michael’s Hospital Emergency Department; and funded digital scales for heart failure patients to help maintain their weights.
The Woman and Infant Center of St. Michael’s Hospital also benefitted from the program. The foundation provided Halo Bassinet Swivel Sleepers for five labor/delivery rooms. Another grant will provide funding for the Nitronex Delivery System to allow mothers to self-administer nitrous oxide and oxygen during labor and delivery, making St. Michael’s Hospital one of only seven hospitals in the state offering the service.
The foundation also provided a portable lactation station at Portage County Health and Human Services and the Portage County Breastfeeding Coalition, to provide a private place for breast pumping. The station has already been set up at public events like Celebrate Plover, Pacelli Panacea, and the Turkey Trot.
Three unnamed individuals currently enrolled in post-secondary education with an emphasis in the medical field received a $1,000 scholarship for the 2018-2019 school, the news release said.
The foundation also helped support employees of Ascension. Associates of the medical group who undergo unexpected hardship can receive assistance through the Christian Workplace Fund. Last year, 19 grants were awarded to qualified associates and helped pay for medical, rent, utility or other living expenses.
Three associates of Ascension Medical Group also received a combined $5,000 in grants to professional development programs including Advanced Clinical Training in Pulmonary Function Testing, Mammography Training Course, and a National Ergonomics Conference and Expo.
The St. Michael’s Foundation also partnered with Cycling Without Age Stevens Point, providing grant dollars towards the purchase of a TrioBike Taxi Trishaw, which offers senior patients in living centers and nursing homes in the community an opportunity to enjoy a recreational ride outdoors and in the public.