The Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce the success of its 2023 Fundraising Year. The funds will be used to improve the level of care provided by AHN-Westfield Memorial Hospital. The success is due to the generosity of so many loyal donors of the Foundation both near and afar. Photo, from left to right: members of the 2023 WMHF Executive Committee: Christine Adams, Treasurer, Kathryn S. Bronstein, Ph.D., President, Patricia Gaughan DiPalma, Executive Director of the WMH Foundation, Colleen Meeder, Secretary and Jon Northrop, Vice-President.

WESTFIELD – “Partnering with AHN Westfield Hospital to provide compassionate care close to home is what we’ve always done. It’s what we will always do,” is the motto that the Westfield Memorial Hospital (WMH) Foundation Board of Directors (BOD) adheres to on a daily basis.

The BOD recently announced the success of its 2023 fundraising efforts, which raised $383,291 in support of the community hospital. The monies will enable the Foundation to continue to fulfill its mission of providing financial support for the delivery of high-quality healthcare to the residents of the Chautauqua region.

Much of the funding came in the form of grants from the following organizations: The Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Chautauqua County IDA, Five Star Bank, Gebbie Foundation, The Lenna Foundation, The Robert S. and Janet L. Miller Family Foundation, M&T Charitable Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Ripley Community Heritage Fund, West Herr Automotive, The Western New York Foundation and the Jesse C. Wilson Memorial Trust.

Contributing to the 2023 campaign total were donations from WMH associates, members of the WMH Medical Staff, hospital, foundation and auxiliary board members, individuals, businesses, civic & service organizations, and foundations.

Leading the Foundation board since 2018 is President Kathryn S. Bronstein, Ph.D., who stated, “It is because of the Foundation’s valued and loyal donors that the Foundation was able to surpass its campaign goal. The entire AHN Westfield family, including my colleagues on the hospital, auxiliary and Foundation boards of directors remain grateful to everyone who provided the needed financial support – especially with on-going inflation concerns coupled with a tight labor market and higher drug pricing.

Because of this generosity, the Foundation can deliver on its promises to our community hospital. It is these donors who have made it possible for the residents of Chautauqua County to turn to us when faced with a need for medical care.”

In 2023, the Foundation was able to fund more than $250,000 in equipment throughout the hospital – most notably the new C-Arm imaging equipment that allows physicians to take a ‘moving x-ray’ which gives precise information in real time. Additionally, new projects were funded in several departments: Diabetes Education, Food & Nutrition, Physical Therapy, as well as Radiology.

“These past few years have been filled with many challenges, but also filled with unexpected blessings as our wonderful community came together to ensure AHN Westfield Hospital remains a viable rural hospital,” said WMH Administrator, Dr. Rodney Buchanan.

“Thanks to the hospital Foundation’s steadfast donors, our new C-Arm ensures that the necessary tubes, stents or IV catheter insertion can be done locally right here at our hospital. This new technology minimizes the need to travel out of town for services,” he continued.

The hospital’s service area includes Ashville, Bemus Point, Brocton, Chautauqua, Clymer, Dewittville, Findley Lake, Mayville, Panama, Portland, Ripley, Sherman, Stockton, and Westfield as well as visitors to our region. The hospital served close to 32,000 patients in 2023.

“The communities served by the hospital are the mainstay of each and every campaign,” said Patricia Gaughan DiPalma, WMH Foundation Executive Director. “The 2023 Campaign was no exception. It was the continued generosity of the many individuals, countless businesses, churches, schools, foundations, civic and service organizations that joined together in support of the hospital foundation’s mission that enabled us to surpass our goal once again.

A donation to the WMH Foundation is more than just a contribution – it’s a direct investment in the health of the residents both young and old who live in the Chautauqua region throughout the hospital’s service area,” she said.

AHN Westfield Hospital is a member of the Allegheny Health Network. As a not-for-profit entity, many of the critical healthcare services and advanced equipment funded by the hospital foundation are only possible because our dedicated community members remain loyal and constant supporters.

“We were also able to fund the resurfacing of our Helipad behind the hospital, due to the philanthropy of our dear friends, Barbara, and Hans Bergstrom. The safety of patients, staff, and the helicopter transport team to transport critically or injured patients is greatly enhanced,” said Bronstein.

She continued saying, “Donors also met our first ’10 Days of Giving’ raffle in November with much enthusiasm. Thanks to the generosity of numerous businesses, we were able to offer super gifts such as an Apple iPad, 55” Smart Samsung TV, Apple Watch, weekend getaways, and many gift certificates to local coffee shops, restaurants, and gas stations. In addition to the winners of the featured prize of the day, we also offered runner up prizes for each of the 10 days. This new fundraiser brought in more than $8,000 for the Foundation. We anticipate repeating this ‘Thanksgiving’ event this coming Fall!

The hospital provides an array of services, in addition to emergency care, including ambulatory and short-stay surgery, outpatient diagnostic services, physical therapy, cardiac testing, imaging, women’s diagnostic services, digital mammography, laboratory, diabetes education, nuclear stress testing, wound and infusion clinics, inpatient care, and a specialty services suite that includes general surgery, digestive diseases, and orthopedics. Telemedicine services for stroke patients are also available at AHN-Westfield Hospital. The hospital also provides primary care services on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution during its nine-week summer season.

“To continue its mission to lend the financial support for the delivery of high-quality healthcare, these departments will look to the Foundation to provide funding for needed equipment,” Dr. Bronstein added.

Over the past 45 years, the generosity of its donors has had an incredible impact on the variety and quality of equipment and services available at the hospital. For more information about how to give to this year’s Annual Campaign, please call Patricia DiPalma at (716) 793-2338. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible and can be made securely through our website at: www.westfieldhospitalfoundation.org or mailed to our office at 189 East Main Street, Westfield, NY 14787.