Hospital Foundation celebrates 10 years

Friday, October 1, 2004
Joe Kraft, Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation, and Phil Vinyard, president, NRMC board of directors, cut the ribbon on the hospital's Wall of Appreciation that honors donors who have donated $2,500 or more. The Wall of Appreciation is an addition to the Tree of Life, which honors those who donate up to $2,500.

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

Approximately 150 people were on hand to help the Nevada Regional Medical Center Foundation celebrate its 10th anniversary. Greg Hoffman, one of the founders of the foundation, kicked off the celebration with a light-hearted look at the events from 1994, the year the foundation was created.

"1994, 10 years ago, David Litten's hair was still dark," Hoffman said. Wendy Maclaren was still driving her 1986 Honda Accord and Franklin Norman was a spry 84."

Hoffman described how Delores Monroe initiated the first meeting.

"During the summer of 1994 several of us received phone calls from Delores Monroe about serving on a start up board for the hospital's foundation," Hoffman said. "None of us needed another committee meeting or board assignment, but you did not say no to Delores and survive to tell the tale."

Hoffman described the process of creating the foundation board as similar to having children.

"There were good moments and not so good," Hoffman said. "We watched it grow and mature. Here we are today with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and I'd say we've become a responsible adult."

After Hoffman spoke, fellow founders David Litten and Wendy Maclaren also came up and spoke of the beginning of the foundation and the progress made since its inception.

The first eight years of the foundation's existence it raised an average of $21,000 per year but the total for the last two years was $400,000.

Foundation chairman, Joe Kraft, stepped up to the podium and thanked the many donors who had made the foundation a success. Chief among the donors were the L. F. Richardson Foundation, The Finis Moss Charitable Trust and the NRMC Auxiliary.

"I'd especially like to thank the NRMC Auxiliary which donated $75,000 last November for new furniture and equipment," Kraft said. "They have also donated thousands of dollars over the years to the hospital to purchase much-needed equipment."

The hospital's board of directors President Phil Vinyard handed plaques to the doctors who had served the hospital for more than 20 years.

There are 11 doctors who have done so and six were on hand to receive the awards. Vinyard said that in addition to the plaques a piece of artwork would be displayed on the hospital's walls with a brass plaque honoring the doctors.

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