As I look back on 2025, I am filled with deep gratitude and pride for what
we have accomplished together. This year has been one of bold vision,
community partnership, and steadfast commitment to protecting and strengthening
healthcare in the Gunnison Valley. We also adopted a new Foundation Strategic
Plan to guide our philanthropic priorities, strengthen donor engagement,
and ensure our efforts remain aligned with the long-term needs of Gunnison
Valley Health and the community we serve. None of this progress would
have been possible without you.
Last September, we celebrated the completion of our $12 million capital
campaign for the new EMS station, culminating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony
honoring the family of Mary and Jack Blake. This milestone represents
far more than a building - it is a symbol of community resilience and
our shared commitment to emergency response excellence. The new station
ensures that our EMS teams have the space, equipment, and resources needed
to serve our valley for decades to come.
This year also marked the launch of our new Annual Giving Program, “Our
Valley, Our Health.” In just two months, this initiative raised
more than $300,000 to support the long-term sustainability of our rural
health system. The overwhelming response demonstrated what we already
know: this community believes in local healthcare and is willing to invest
in its future.
Building on that momentum, we launched a bold new $5 million campaign,
“Our Health, Our Future, Our Choice.” This effort is a direct
call to action - an invitation for our community to stand together and
protect local access to care. Rural healthcare faces unprecedented challenges
nationwide, and this campaign empowers our valley to choose a future where
high-quality, local healthcare remains strong and independent.
Beyond capital campaigns, your generosity has fueled meaningful progress
across our health system. We have expanded behavioral health initiatives
to meet the growing needs of our community, strengthened health equity
efforts to ensure immigrant families can access care with dignity and
trust, and supported nursing scholarships and advanced education for students
committed to practicing in the Gunnison
Valley long-term. Additionally, more than $200,000 in capital equipment
was funded this
year, ensuring that our providers have the tools they need to deliver safe,
modern, high-quality
care close to home.
Every gift - large and small - represents belief in our mission and confidence
in our future. Your support sustains essential services, strengthens our
workforce, and protects access to care for generations to come.
On behalf of the entire Gunnison Valley Health Foundation and the patients,
families, and providers we serve, thank you. Together, we are proving
that when a community invests in its health, there is no limit to what
we can accomplish.
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