Cardinal Health System Latest News Foundation Kickoff

BMH Foundation Annual Campaign Kickoff

MUNCIE — The BMH Foundation kicked off the 2005 annual campaign November 2 with a focus on the children of East Central Indiana. Jack Demaree, 2005 Annual Campaign Chairman, announced that this year’s campaign would concentrate on raising funds to support the pediatric rehabilitation program available in the CHS Pediatric Center.

The Pediatric Rehabilitation program located in the CHS Pediatric Center is the largest in the state outside of Indianapolis and treats more than 340 children every year from seven different counties. Funds raised from the annual campaign will support the programs and services offered by the Pediatric Rehab program.

“I consider it a special privilege to care for some of the kids and families who need the services at the Pediatric Rehabilitation Center,” said Jeffrey Heavilon, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Central Indiana Orthopedics and co-physician leader for the campaign. “These kids have a different road through life than most of us but with the right services and resources available they can excel and this annual campaign is going to help continue to make success stories happen.”

Co-physician campaign chair James Bryn, MD, Pediatrician , CHS Pediatric Center echoed Dr. Heavilon’s comments.

“The CHS Pediatric Center is the only facility of its kind between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne and it is vital to this community,” Dr. Bryn said. “We are thankful to be associated with such a fine project and look forward to the benefits it will supply.”

More than 125 volunteers packed in to the Hotel Roberts ballroom in downtown Muncie for the annual campaign kick off breakfast, including several board members and administrators from CHS and BMH. Those on hand were able to view a video of the different programs and people impacted by the Pediatric Rehab program. The video told the story from the perspectives of several children and parents who work with therapists in the Pediatric Rehab program multiple times each week. At the conclusion of the video several employees on hand from the Pediatric Rehab program received a well deserved applause.

“We are thrilled to be off and running with the 2005 BMH Foundation Annual Campaign,” Demaree said. “We have a very worthy cause along with a strong group of volunteers and we look forward to a solid campaign that will benefit the work being done in our community by the BMH Foundation.”

Kelly Stanley, President, BMH Foundation, voiced his appreciation for the volunteers involved in the campaign this year. “We have confi dence in our team of volunteers and their belief in Cardinal Health System and Ball Memorial Hospital,” he said. “It is important that we at least reach our target of $165,000.”

To start the annual campaign, Foundatio President Kelly Stanley announced a special lead gift from First Merchants in the amount of $30,000.

“We are especially grateful for the special gift which affi rms that our efforts to support Pediatric Rehab in our community,” Stanley said. Hamer and Phyllis Shafer, are the Honorary Chairs for the ’05 Campaign, Thomas Kinghorn is the Vice Chair and Drs. Jeffrey Heavilon and Jim Byrn are physician leaders who are very active in the campaign effort.

Last year, the Foundation’s Annual Campaign focused on Community Health Initiatives and provided support for Cardinal Access, a program created by the BMH Foundation in conjunction with various community partners. Now in its second year, Cardinal Access has helped more than 3,200 uninsured people and boasts participation from more than 200 physicians from the community.

CHS Employees can help support the 2005 BMH Foundation’s Annual Campaign through payroll deduction, credit card, or check. To learn more on how you can contribute to the BMH Foundation or to obtain a copy of the Pediatric Rehab video, contact The BMH Foundation offi ce at (765) 747-3420.