Providence St. Patrick Hospital received a $250,000 gift from William and Dr. Jeanne Wilson in late December, and according to Fran Albrecht, Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Providence Montana Health Foundation, it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

“I received a call from Bill Wilson and his lovely wife, Dr. Jeanne Wilson, just expressing their gratitude about the care that they and others have received at St. Pat's, and really having a deep understanding about the ongoing needs that our hospitals have,” said Albrecht. “They let me know that the CARES Act also allowed them to be able to express their generosity with an additional gift of 250,000 to assist us.”

As 2020 comes to an end, donors and philanthropists are using the opportunity provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) economic relief package that allows deduction of gifts of 100% of adjusted gross income.

Albrecht detailed some of the ways that $250,000 would be used by St. Patrick Hospital.

“The funds are going to assist us with a variety of ongoing projects that we have at the hospital,” she said. “Fortunately, these donors understand that our leadership with Joyce (Dombrouski) and others really are putting these towards the greatest needs. And that can be everything from COVID funds to assisting us with caregivers but also our ongoing need to expand some of our service lines that folks in our community understand are so critical, and that includes neurosciences and cardiology.”

Albrecht said the funds will be used in other ways, as well.

“We're going to be looking at the best way to utilize those funds, but what we know is we're having to continue to meet the growing needs, not just with COVID, but folks who need that access to excellence, and we want to make sure that they can get in there especially as we see growth in western Montana.”

For others who may wish to take advantage of the CARES Act year-end gifts to Providence Sat. Patrick Hospital, click this link.

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