Gratitude And Giving Campaign Bridges New Year | News, Sports, Jobs – Jamestown Post Journal

Local News

Dec 22, 2020

From left, Melissa Uber, past WCA Foundation board member, fund donor and corporate sponsor to the foundation, discusses the newly published annual report of WCA Foundation with Brigetta Overcash, executive director, and Megan Barone, director of development of UPMC Chautauqua and WCA Foundation. Submitted photo

WCA Foundations annual Donation Days to raise funds in support of UPMC Chautauqua has expanded in a few new ways.

The Gratitude and Giving Campaign highlights the actions of the foundation and specifically some of its more actively supported funds. It also is including solicitation in support of the Staff Assistance Fund created this year to pass on community donations to the frontline workers of the hospital who helping in the fight against the COCID-19 pandemic. This year the Gratitude and Giving Campaign bridges year-end and new year giving to accommodate those who have specific donation patterns for tax purposes.

Community members may support first responders or donate a gift where most needed at the hospital through the Patient Care Fund. Donations may be made online at the foundations secure website: http://www.wcafoundationjamestown.org. Gifts made by check may be sent to WCA Foundation, P.O. Box 840, Jamestown, NY 14702-0840.

Funds at the foundation that are participating in the Gratitude and Giving Campaign by sharing with the community information about their work through WCA Foundation are A Fresh Start Fund in Memory of Alex Foulk: Fights Chemical Dependency; Anne Sischos Shades of Pink Fund: Fights Breast Cancer and Trains Nurse Navigators; Bowling Over Breast Cancer Fund: Fights Breast Cancer; Brad and Becky VanRiper Digestive Cancer Fund: Fights an Elusive Cancer; Cardiology Pass-Through Fund: Fights Heart Disease; Dale and Rebecca Robbins Fund: Supports Maternity and Pediatrics; Daniel A. Johnson Scholarship Fund: Educational Grants for UPMC Chautauqua employees;Family Care Calls Fund: Supports Family/Patient Communications; Fund for Patient Care: Supports life-saving equipment grants; Hannahs Fund: Supports Mental Health Inpatient Adolescent Comfort Room; Healthy Life Fund: Promotes Employee Wellness; Joeys Journey Fund: Supports Bereaved Families of Pediatric Patients; The Good Neighbor Fund: Assists Patients in Need at Discharge; The Grateful Patient Fund: Supports Medical and Surgical Equipment Grants; and the Rosemary Billquist Scholarship Fund: Promotes Employee Education.

See BRIDGES, Page A7

From Page A5

WCA Foundation also distributed its annual report during the campaign. The report helps the community expand its awareness of the dynamic work the foundation does in its unique role as a supporting foundation for the critical care hospital of the Chautauqua Region. The report can be reviewed on the foundation website. Highlighted in it are some of the foundations new funds and many of the significant grants made from the its endowment funds. This year the Patient Care Fund purchased a $348,000 suite of equipment to enhance early detection and treatment of prostate and kidney cancers. Equipment like this is unheard of in communities this size and would normally be beyond the budgeted possibility of our hospital.

The board of directors and staff of WCA Foundation extend in the spirit of extreme gratitude their appreciation for the giving nature of this community. With continued donor support, the foundations grants from endowed and pass-through funds continue to increase. Through grants generated the health care needs of this community can be more specifically addressed through the specialized equipment purchased.

For more information or assistance in making a donation, contact WCA Foundation staff Brigetta Overcash, executive director, at overcashbe@upmc.edu or 664-5461, or Megan Barone, at baronema3@upmc.edu or 716-664-8423.

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Gratitude And Giving Campaign Bridges New Year | News, Sports, Jobs - Jamestown Post Journal