MEEKER I Pioneers Healthcare Foundation (PHF) awarded a $10,000 grant to Pioneers Medical Center on Jan. 19 to assist with the purchase of a medication dispensary machine (Pyxis). The Pyxis machine will be used in the pharmacy department to ensure patient safety and minimize medication errors.
In December 2011, Pioneers Healthcare Foundation received its 501c3 status as an official not-for-profit foundation. The mission and vision of Pioneers Healthcare Foundation is to develop and steward philanthropic resources to help meet the healthcare needs of eastern Rio Blanco County.
As a 501c3, PHF was able to apply, and was awarded a grant from the Colorado Grand Foundation*. This put PHF in a position to be able to share the grant with PMC.
“We are excited to see the vision of the PHF board start to come to life.” said Trina Zagar-Brown, chairman of the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation board. “PHF is committed to implementing strategies that will give our community the financial resources for sustainable, quality healthcare for our residents.”
PHF was formed in June 2011.
“We are excited to thank the initial donors to PHF, White River Electric Association, Brooks and Brooks, LLC and Ken and Leslie Harman,” said Margie Joy, PHF executive director. “These donations are huge in ‘kick-starting’ the funding for the variety of PHF programs.”
The foundation is focusing resources around many community outreach programs that will assist our low-income, senior and uninsured residents. Key program areas are Meals on Wheels, Marvine Ranch Cancer Screening Program, Meeker Streaker, the Scholarship Grow Your Own Program, and the Kris Borchard Strive for Excellence Scholarship.
During December PHF sponsored the 2011 Share the Light, Tree Lighting and Fireworks event. Funds raised during this event directly supported the Kris Borchard Strive for Excellence Scholarship Fund, to assist area residents pursuing healthcare careers. The funds will be used to offset education costs beyond the associate and bachelor’s degree levels, e.g. medical or nursing school.
“The community support has been overwhelming, and we are excited to share that more than $9,800 was raised.”
Additional sponsors of the event were the White River Electric Association, Meeker Recreation Center, Rio Blanco County and Meeker Fire Department.
For more information about the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation please call Margie Joy at 970-878-9317.
*The Colorado Grand is an annual charity tour of 1960, or earlier sports and race cars. The tour generates about $200,000 annually; which is donated to small Colorado charities and scholarships
