David W. Felton, President and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital and Larry Baker, Chairman of the Community Memorial Hospital Foundation, have announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign aimed at providing funds for renovations, capital equipment purchases, and growth of the endowment.

The Campaign for Community Memorial Hospital: Caring For Your Future is a $1.5 million effort that Felton feels is essential to, “maintain and expand upon the tremendous growth of the past 25 years.”

Baker agrees, “Community Memorial has escaped the plight of many small, rural hospitals thanks in large part to the financial support of area friends, businesses, institutions, staff and patients. The Campaign for Community Memorial Hospital is an opportunity to help purchase capital equipment for radiology, cardiology, surgery and in all other departments. Donors can also make gifts to the endowment, providing funds that will generate income for the future.”

Susie Gustafson, a Hamilton Realtor, and retired physician/surgeon Dr. George Gillmore, have agreed to co-chair the campaign.

“The hospital is so vital to this community and the surrounding area that it must maintain updated standards at all levels of care,” said Dr. Gillmore. “To do that requires money; specifically, a monetary commitment from those it serves.”

Gustafson, who is also the President of the Community Memorial Auxiliary, has played a key role in several fundraising projects and is a long time supporter of the hospital.

She feels, “The things we care about the most are often the things we take for granted – family, friends, neighbors, work and our community institutions. When we do remember to remember, those around us are better because of it. Quality healthcare close to home is a sustainable resource only if we don’t take it for granted. I hope you will join our family in remembering to financially support Community Memorial Hospital so that we can assure ourselves and our loved ones of healthy lifestyles in the future.”

Community Memorial Hospital is one of the few small facilities nationwide to earn a VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence in Surgical Complications and Infection Prevention. The hospital is a recipient of the HealthGrades 2008 Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ and is ranked #2 among all New York State hospitals for joint replacement and among the top five percent of hospitals nationwide.

According to the results of a federal survey, Community Memorial leads all other Upstate hospitals in nine categories that measure patient satisfaction.

Community Memorial Hospital serves 45,000 people in 27 Central New York communities, providing primary care, acute care, emergency care, and long term care.