5 South Capital Campaign - $1.7 Million Raised

The Value of Compassionate Care was the theme of the 2022 Donor Banquet of the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation held May 12 at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of ASU-Mountain Home. The evening celebrated the hospital’s achievements and expressed gratitude to the hospital’s staff, administration and volunteers for their continued compassionate patient care and kindness as well as to the community for their continued support and generosity. Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President and CEO, said the annual Donor Banquet is an event he enjoys. “It is always so wonderful to meet with the individuals that support the hospital. It was truly an evening of celebration and gratitude for our volunteers and donors.”

Travis Doshier, Foundation Board Chairman, welcomed the 300 attendees, introduced the evening’s speakers and expressed appreciation to the hospital and foundation boards, senior leaders, and members of auxiliary and community house boards of directors for their dedication to Baxter Regional. Jay Wescoat, past Foundation Board Chairman, was introduced by Doshier who presented him with a plaque of recognition and appreciation for his two years of board leadership. Cindy Costa, CFRE, Director of Development, Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation, introduced Jeannie Alley, a hospital donor and volunteer, who donated the grand piano she plays each weekday in the hospital lobby. When Costa presented Alley with an award of recognition and appreciation, she shared a blog story “The Gift,” by a patient, Pat Durmon, who referred to Alley’s music as “a healing gift.

”Randy Hopper, Chairman of the Baxter Regional Board of Directors, extended appreciation and gratitude from the hospital board members to the hospital leadership, employees, volunteers and community for their contributions to the hospital’s achievements and growth. A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of a $1 million check by Barney Larry, Vice President/Business Development and Executive Director of the Baxter Hospital Foundation; Sarah Edwards, Foundation Major Gift Officer; John Dyess, Major Gift Chairman; and Steve Litty, Major Gift Committee Member to Ron Peterson, Baxter Regional President/CEO and Debbie Henry, Baxter Regional Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. The$1 million check is a first installment of the $1.7 million raised in the 5 South Surgical Services Unit Capital Campaign. Completion of the renovation is expected this year. As he began his presentation on philanthropy’s impact on Baxter Regional, Peterson expressed his gratitude for the $1.7 million donation for the 5 South renovation. “For me, it is always very difficult to find a way to express to a room full of volunteers, donors and true friends our gratitude and appreciation for your kindness and compassion. So let me just say, thank you, thank you and thank you. You will never realize the full blessing that you are to this organization.” During his remarks, Peterson cited 10 major accomplishments valued at $5 million through generous gifts and volunteered hours donated to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also introduced the hospital’s new mission: compassionate care beyond measure; purpose—to champion access to compassionate high-quality care by remaining independent, strategically comprehensive and community focused; as well as an eight-point values statement.

The final presentation of the evening was a video honoring hospital employees who were recognized by patients and family members for their compassionate care and kindness. Reverend Randy Ludwig, Hospital Chaplain, and Peterson shared their personal stories of the compassion and kindness their families received at Baxter Regional—compassionate care and kindness which is then extended to all patients. Ludwig spoke about his father, a patient at Baxter Regional when he died after a long illness that left him nearly unrecognizable to his family. His father’s nurse understood how difficult this was for the family, and when they returned to his room, they found him cleanly shaved with his hair washed and combed, looking like the father they remembered. Peterson said when his mother-in-law, a hospital patient, died during the night, his wife, Jeanne, regretted not being there and feared her mother died alone. The family was relieved and grateful to learn she was not alone and died peacefully while her nurse sang hymns and held her hand. The evening concluded with Corinne Hiser, CNP, singing “It Is Well with My Soul” with the audience standing and singing the hymn’s closing chorus.