Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign gains momentum

‘Philanthropy is contagious’

CROWN POINT - Kathleen Mueller has sometimes tearful, but loving memories of days spent at Saint Anthony Medical Center with injured and ill family members since 1978.

Mueller, of Hebron, says she never will forget the concern and compassion shown by hospital and hospice staff during that time. “I have a long connection with the hospital and have experienced every service and level of care. Saint Anthony is just a very good place; at every turn you find people who care,” Mueller says.

Mueller has decided to give back in a way that will show her appreciation and help future patients by donating $1,000 to the hospital’s Capital Campaign, which seeks to raise $4.5 million by the end of 2010. A family friend, Scott Alderson, a former Gary resident now living in Virginia, also is contributing $1,000, at Mueller’s urging.

Alderson is donating the money, raised at a golf outing, in memory of Mueller’s late husband, Donald. Alderson played high school baseball for Donald, who coached the sport in Northwest Indiana for 45 years. Mueller is donating on behalf of her husband, her late mother, and her son, who also received “wonderful” care at Saint Anthony Medical Center.

The funds, which are being matched by a private donor, will be used to build a new St. Clare Health Clinic, which will expand its free services to uninsured residents of six area counties, and to support the addition of new technology and further development of Franciscan Point, Saint Anthony Medical Center’s new outpatient complex.
So far, nearly $2 million, which includes the match, has been raised since the drive began in early 2008.

Mueller’s most recent experience involved Donald, her husband of 46 years, who succumbed to cancer in April after spending six months in and out of the hospital.
“Don spent 13 of his last 17 days at Saint Anthony Medical Center and his last 30 hours in Saint Anthony Hospice. I have never seen people who do so much for their patients and families – I got as good of care as they did,” Mueller relates.
She calls the Capital Campaign, “a good thing for Crown Point and the area communities.”

Joseph Allegretti, campaign chairman, said the latest contributions show that “philanthropy is contagious,” citing previous events this year at The Circle Restaurant and Conservative Café. Each restaurant donated one-half or more of its proceeds from a given day. The same-type event is scheduled July 29 at Ponderosa steak house, 1498 N. Main St.

“It is wonderful that a lady who thought her family received such good care would donate, along with a man who had been coached by her husband and thought that if she donated, he would. It’s good to see that this generosity is catching,” Allegretti said.

Warren Johnson, director of development for Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Northern Indiana Region, agreed. “It is a gift that provides solid bricks and mortar to build a stronger future, not only for the hospital and St. Clare Health Clinic, but also for the best in health care for our community.”