Health Care and Nursing Students Supported Through Partnership

On January 19, 2009 the membership and Board of Trustees of Community Hospital Independent Endowment Fund (CHIEF) and the Board of Trustees of Community Hospital Health Services Foundation (CHF) approved the merger of CHIEF with and into CHF retroactive to January 1st. Construction of the new Springfield Regional Medical Center, completion of the legal merger of Mercy Medical Center and Community Hospital in early 2008, and recognition of the Community Mercy Foundation as the official fund development organization for the hospital system, were key factors in the decision to cease operations of CHIEF and name CHF as the surviving entity.

As a result of the merger of CHF and CHIEF, and after thoughtful consideration, the CHF Board of Trustees has entrusted the care of several donor-established funds, previously administered by CHIEF, to the Springfield Foundation. While some funds support cardiac and respiratory care, the majority provide support to the Springfield Regional School of Nursing and will continue to provide numerous scholarships for local nursing students enrolled at the School. In total, these funds exceed $850,000 in value.

"Partnering with the Springfield Foundation provides us with the level of professional expertise critical for the on-going stewardship of these gifts and their continued growth and benefit to our community over time," said Faye Flack, Executive Director of the Community Hospital Health Services Foundation. "This partnership taps the Springfield Foundation's 6 decades of experience in the administration of donor-established funds and allows CHF to focus on its core mission of providing women's health and reproductive health and education services in the community," added Flack.

"We are very pleased that CHF has partnered with us to assist them with administering these endowments and funds," said Springfield Foundation Board President, David Sanders. "Quality health care and the training of our community's nurses are critical to the well-being of our community. It's an honor and a privilege to steward a collection of funds that support these efforts," added Sanders.

The Community Hospital Health Services Foundation was established in 1986 as the parent company to Community Hospital and other related medical affiliates. In 2004 CHF became a 50% owner of Community Mercy Health Partners (CMHP) and assumed responsibility for providing specific health services that CMHP, as a Catholic affiliated organization, cannot. CHF publishes the Women's Health Resource Guide for Clark and Champaign Counties and leads local efforts to improve adolescent sexual health and reduce teen pregnancy. It will construct, own and operate a health services pavilion on the new Springfield Regional Medical Center campus in downtown Springfield.

The Springfield Foundation is Clark County's Community Foundation and was founded in 1948 to improve the quality of life in Springfield and Clark County by providing a permanent source of charitable funding to non-profit organizations and educational institutions. The Foundation has managed endowment funds for the benefit of Clark County for 61 years.

For further information contact:
Ted Vander Roest, Executive Director, Springfield Foundation at (937) 324-8773 or ,