Klock Kingston Foundation Grants $25,000 to Support Health Care in Ulster County

The Klock Kingston Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to support the Benedictine Health Foundation’s programs that provide financial support and compassionate care to people coping with the diagnosis of cancer, and behavioral health and substance abuse disorders.

Programs that will benefit include the Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund to assist cancer patients while they receive treatment, $90,000 is distributed annually, and valuable workshops and educational forums for adolescents to educate them on behavioral health conditions that can lead to discrimination or bullying, and create reluctance for our youth to seek help. Topics presented are crucial to healthy development, self-esteem and confidence, and share a critical message of persistence, resilience, self-worth and hard work.

“We thank the Klock Foundation and Key Private Bank for their continuous support of our mission to raise and distribute resources to support quality healthcare that improves the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of those who are vulnerable and underserved in Ulster County and the surrounding area,” stated Robert J. Ryan, Jr., President of the Benedictine Health Foundation.

The Klock Kingston Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Ulster County to advance education, literacy, the arts, public health and the sciences. “As a member of the Klock Kingston Trustees, we are again proud to continue the charitable legacy of Lucia and Jay Klock, and to support health care services in the Ulster County community,” stated Sloan Saverine, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Key Private Bank.

The Benedictine Health Foundation, based in Kingston, NY, has supported healthcare programs and services since 1977. For further information, contact Barbara Klassen, Executive Director, at (845) 481-1303.

The Benedictine Health Foundation received a generous grant from Ulster Savings Bank to fund a Health and Technology Camp at HealthAlliance Hospital, Member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, to be held July 25 – 29.

“We’re very pleased to provide funding in support of the 2016 HealthAlliance Health & Technology Camp,” said Jeffrey Wood, Ulster Savings Bank Vice President and Chair of the Ulster Savings Bank Donations Committee.  “The Camp provides an excellent educational opportunity for these students, as well as offering them insights into the clinical and complementary services provided to patients throughout the HealthAlliance health care system.”

The innovative, week-long summer program will provide 10 – 12 year old children with the opportunity to observe many different aspects of healthcare.  Campers will be grouped in teams and attend classes on CPR and summer safety.  They will shadow medical professionals and visit clinical areas including nursing, emergency medicine, maternity, and mental health, as well as non-clinical including engineering, security and information technology.  

“Due to the generous support of Ulster Savings Bank, the Benedictine Health Foundation is honored to fund the Health and Technology Camp.  This is a memorable experience for the campers and the hospital staff, and exemplifies our Foundation’s tradition of supporting compassionate care for the people in our community,” said Robert J. Ryan, Jr., President of the Benedictine Health Foundation Board.

A graduation and awards ceremony will be held at the end of the week where campers will present PowerPoint presentations on their team’s favorite area of healthcare.

For more information, please contact Barbara Klassen, Benedictine Health Foundation Executive Director, at  (845) 481-1303 or bklassen@bhfoundation.org.

(L to R): 2015 Campers with HealthAlliance Medical Staff

Optimus Architecture located in Rhinebeck recently presented a $2,500 check to the Benedictine Health Foundation to purchase new furnishings for the Mental Health Services Unit at HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary’s Avenue Campus, Member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

“Mental Health Services at HAHV is extremely grateful for the very generous donation from Optimus Architecture to be used towards new furnishings for the Clinical care areas throughout the department. Enhancements to these areas will provide spaces to promote wellness and recovery for our clients,” stated Arnell Tuttle RN-BC, BS, Administrative Director.

The Mental Health Inpatient units are comprised of a dedicated group of professionals including a Medical Director, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, activity therapists, social workers and mental health technicians. The inpatient unit operates in a team-focused, patient-centered environment where a forward looking approach to behavioral health is combined with compassionate and expert care. The 21-bed inpatient Acute Care Unit provides intensive psychiatric inpatient care and treatment, along with individual, group therapy, life skills, arts, and activities to patients in need of these services. The 19-bed Progressive Care Unit provides psychiatric inpatient care and treatment to patients who require a more open environment and anticipated discharge.

“We are thrilled to give back to our community keeping in tradition with so many multi-generation families in Kingston.  It is important that we use our resources wisely to offer our community members the best education, employment and healthcare opportunities so they can grow their careers and families and continue this tradition,” stated David A. Souers, AIA, ACHA, ASHE, Principal Architect at Optimus.

Photo, L to R: Linda and David Souers, Optimus Architecture; Arnell Tuttle, HealthAlliance Mental Health Services; Robert J. Ryan, Jr. and Barbara Klassen, Benedictine Health Foundation

Dear Friends and Supporters — Happy New Year!

The Benedictine Health Foundation has been the recipient of countless hours of volunteer service and significant financial contributions for over 36 years.  We are honored by each gift of time and monetary donations received that have improved the quality of health and spiritual care in Ulster County.

We are grateful that so many people in our community are involved in our fundraising efforts, can embrace change, and continue to endorse our Foundation’s mission and vision as we carry on our work with the Benedictine Sisters, HealthAlliance, and community-based healthcare providers.

Thank you for your overwhelming response to our 2013 Year-End Appeal, and for giving us the privilege to expend those funds to support our core areas of focus: cancer patient and family services, spiritual care, and mental health and substance abuse services.  In addition to our pillars of giving, we will continue to offer financial support for capital requests as prioritized by HealthAlliance administration and that are in line with our Mission.

The following services, programs and technologies are just a few of the projects we have identified to fund in our community and at HealthAlliance in 2014:

Community: 

– $100,000 in Financial Assistance to individuals receiving cancer treatment — distributed
through the Benedictine Health Foundation’s Rosemary D. Gruner Memorial Cancer Fund

– “Caring for the Caregiver” – May 2, 2014 — An all-day retreat for Caregivers presented in
partnership with Caring Connections of Ulster County

– The Patriots Project: Transitional Housing for Veterans – Ulster County Veterans’ Service Agency

HealthAlliance: 

– Expansion of Chaplain/Spiritual Care Services to serve the needs of patients at the
Mary’s Avenue and Broadway Campus

– ICU GlideScope Intubation Equipment

– Construction of a Comfort Room for the Inpatient Mental Health Services Unit

– Nursing Education Scholarships – Dr. Neil S. Lieblich and Adrian McGlothin
Memorial Scholarship Funds

– Lung Cancer Screening Program funded by the Benedictine Auxiliary

– Mental Health Services EXPO May 2014

Thank you for your continued generosity!  We look forward to our upcoming fundraising events, and invite you to join us to share a fun afternoon or evening with friends and neighbors that you care about – while supporting a cause that you care about.

For information on volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, ways to give,
and Foundation initiatives, please call Barbara Klassen at (845) 334-3186 or email,
BKlassen@BenedictineHealthFoundation.org. Please sign up for our e-news: www.benedictinehealthfoundation.org/enews/

Supporting the Benedictine Spirit of Compassionate Care