“The first Foundation’s 30th Anniversary story started with our new campaign in support of current Houlton Regional Hospital equipment needs along with information regarding how the Foundation came about and its first two fundraisers.
Now we move on as we continue our remarkable journey and legacy of “Giving Back,” from 1988-2003.
In 1988, the Foundation made its first grants to Houlton Regional Hospital and other area non-profit health care providers. That year, $30,000 was given to Houlton Regional, East Grand Health Center in Danforth and Katahdin Valley Health care Center (now known as Katahdin Valley Health Center) – Patten in support of equipment needs.
In 1990, the County Open Golf Weekend became a reality after a lunch discussion was held at a local golf course. Since its inception dedicated volunteers, individuals from around the country who participate, and outstanding sponsor support have lead to $507,000 being raised for the Foundation. This amazing event will celebrate 24 years this year, and is still successful.
We now had three major fundraisers — Society of ’72, The Boy & the Boot Statues, and County Open, which were leading factors in giving back $279,230.32 for the years of 1988 to 1998. The next five years saw a significant increase of approximately $400,000 given back in a much shorter period of time.
In 1993, the first Elizabeth Bass scholarships were awarded to four individuals for a total of $6,000 and since then $161,421 has been awarded for students to follow their college dreams in the field of health care. In 1997, the first John Fitzpatrick scholarship was awarded in the amount of $500, and since then $8,850 for those seeking financial assistance in the academic field of health care.
“The year 1997 also brought me the incredible honor of being asked to head up the Foundation and what has become an amazing career and journey for me,” says Elizabeth Dulin, Foundation executive director. “For someone from ‘away,’ I have, over the years, been welcomed in more ways than I could have ever imagined. During the first two years of getting my feet wet in this new career field, made me start thinking there has to be more ways to bring funds into the Foundation, make it grow and be able to give back even more.”
So with those thoughts, the year 1999 brought about the introduction of new fundraising events we felt would appeal to all our communities. Twenty-nine new events have been held over the years; some once, others more, and our diamond raffle being the longest at 11 years. We have made people laugh, dance, buy more tickets than I could imagine to the traditional and sometimes not so traditional ideas we have come up with to help our fundraising causes. Those events helped grow the endowment, which in turn has supported the purchase of a handicapped accessible van in 2000, updated mammography equipment in 2001, equipment funding for Houlton Regional, East Grand and Katahdin Valley clinics in 2002 and the beginning of the Houlton Regional’s Pediatrics Expansion in 2003.
The Foundation’s beginning in 1983 saw a team of guiding forces establish what today is an enduring organization that has earned the respect of all the communities we serve. That team was: Robert Anderson, Elizabeth Bass, George Patterson, Gary Severson, James Ward, Mary Hatfield, and Mike McLaughlin. Since then many distinguished members of our communities have followed in those amazing footsteps to serve as officers and executive committee members.
We know the Foundation’s 30 years of giving has made a difference in Aroostook County health care, a difference that could not have happened without incredible support of all the remarkable people in the communities we serve. Their constant generosity is amazing, and it would be under-statement to say we are truly grateful, as mere words cannot convey the depth of what everyone has done for us throughout the years. Each and every individual is the sole reason we have done well, and deserve our deepest appreciation.
The Foundation has been fundraising for local non-profit health care providers since 1983 in support of equipment, education, and capital needs, to the best of our financial ability. For the first and second parts of our journey disbursements reached the $2 Million Dollar Mark and we are currently heading toward the $3 Million Dollar Mark of “Giving Back”. Our efforts over the years have been truly rewarding knowing the positive impacts we have had on our communities,” says Dulin.
We hope you will follow the next part of our 30-year journey as the upcoming years hold wonderful surprises and the numbers start getting a whole lot bigger. Anyone wishing more information or having questions about the Foundation may call the office at 207-521-2147 or visit www.healthservicesfoundation.org.
