June 24 proved to be a special night for the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation. The evening's event was called a victory celebration for the "Cherishing Our Past, Creating Our Future, Continuing Our Mission" capital campaign in support of the new Mercy Hospital of Tiffin.
The celebration was held at the Wolf Creek Cafe within in the new hospital and was catered by Mercy Tiffin's nutrition services.
With more than 60 members of the hospital's board of trustees, foundation board, capital campaign cabinet and hospital administration present, Lee Martin, chairman of the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation Board of Trustees, presented an oversized check to Dale Thornton, president and chief executive officer of the hospital, in the amount of $1 million.
The check represented the foundation board's pledge to the capital campaign and toppled the high end of the campaign's goal of $5 million.
Members of the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation Board include: Martin, chairman; Patty Cole, vice chairwoman; Derek DeVine; Dennis Eberly; Marcie Funkhouser; Sister Rose Marie Golembiewski, RSM; Su Hellmann; Dave Myers; Judy Ryder; Tim Sacksteder; Peg Shock; Mark Somodi; and Thornton.
"This check represents donors who believe in the Mercy mission who have contributed to the Mercy Tiffin Health Foundation over many years," Martin said. "We are very pleased to present this pledge to put us over goal."
At the conclusion of a capital campaign feasibility study conducted prior to launching of the campaign, campaign counsel Ruotolo Associates recommended a goal of $4 million to $5 million.
"Through much dedication and hard work, we were able to raise $5.2 million," Martin said. "This shows a strong commitment to health care in our community and to the mission of Mercy Hospital of Tiffin.
"We should all be very excited and proud to be standing in this great new facility celebrating an extremely successful campaign."
Thornton recognized co-chairmen Mike Kerschner and Kris Klepper as well as honorary co-chairwomen Gertrude Chisholm and Sister Marie Catherine Wise. Each received an engraved pen to commemorate the new hospital. Thornton presented Martin with a special engraved glass plaque in thanks for his leadership on the foundation board and his work with the campaign.
He also recognized members of the capital campaign cabinet that included Larry Adelsperger, John Arnold, Larry Baker, Ron Burns, Lenny Clouse, Ron Creeger, Steve Dandurand, A.J. Felter, Troy Felter, Mitch Felton, Patrick Hanna, Will Heddles, Grant Heminger, Susan Hering Howard, Bob Hunt, Karl Kortlandt, Tom Lasky, Lee Martin, Dave Myers, Tony Paulus, Bill Reineke, Jr., Linda Ritzler, Tim Sacksteder, Aaron Smith, Adam Smith, Mark Somodi, Sally St. Clair, Jim Troha and Steve Welter.
Martin then thanked Dr. Gene Aug, counsel for Ruotolo Associates, and members of the hospital's development staff including Hellmann, Karen Stucky and Bernie Steinmetz. Steinmetz, manager of development and public relations, was presented with a commemorative mug.
Following the presentation, tours of the new hospital were provided by Mercy administration and staff members.
