Hospital conducts in-house campaign through Tribe

Observer Staff

1/25/2005 12:00:00 AM

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and Central Michigan Community Hospital are conducting an in-house capital campaign among its Tribal members and employees.

The "New Life-New Hope" campaign is the hospital's first capital drive in 29 years with the intent to solicit donations for projects, including a comprehensive cancer center and a family birth center. The campaign also received a kick-off $150,000 cash contribution from the Tribal Council.

Continuing a tradition of community philanthropy-which includes a semi-annual 2 percent distribution and active community involvement, the Tribe invited hospital campaign organizers to conduct solicitation meetings with more than 4,000 Tribal members and employees. Campaign co-chairs Jeff and Vicki Tuma, President and CEO Roger Kerr, as well as CMCH Fund Development Officer Connie McCann will also conduct meetings with the help from Tribal campaign volunteers.

Saginaw Chippewa Chief Audrey Falcon said the Tribe was excited to be a part of the campaign.

"When I was elected to serve as chief of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, I set my primary goals to be a strong, hard-working leader dedicated to improving the well-being of the Tribe and to make good decisions that will benefit the whole community," she stated. "Through their �New Life-New Hope' capital campaign, CMCH is providing a timely opportunity to fulfill one of these goals by having us join the Mt. Pleasant community in supporting the campaign for our community hospital."

Tribal members have been involved with the project in one form or another from the very beginning through their participation in focus groups that helped develop the campaign plan. The Tribal Council and Tribal Health Board have given the campaign their endorsement.

To offer Tribal members and employees the opportunity to support the campaign in a timely fashion, about two dozen meetings have been scheduled since July 26.

The Tribal campaign will be modeled after the CMCH in-house campaign, which saw the hospital's 667 employees surpass their $750,000 minimum goal with an average of more than $1,700 pledged per employee. Campaign organizers are hoping to raise $1 million with the "New Life-New Hope" campaign.

"Because we recognize CMCH as an important community asset and health care provider, we were pleased to invite them as the first group ever to conduct an in-house campaign among Tribal members and employees," Falcon also stated. "We ask you to consider lending your support."