Letters to the Editor - The Millerton News - 9-15-22

Support ‘Pedal Power for Kenyan Education’

Why are some young girls smiling in Africa? They will have a chance of graduating high school, attending university and getting a good job because of a bicycle.

Over 100 people have donated to “Pedal Power for Kenyan Education” to provide five high schools with a total of 175 bicycles, helmets, safety vests and tool kits. These are used by students who walk 5-6 miles to and from school each day and whose families live on $1 a day.

This week, Monday through Friday, Sept. 12 through 16, is the Little x Little campaign. Contributions up to $50 will be matched 50%: $10 becomes $15, $20 grows to $30 and $50 transforms to $75! Of course, contributions above $50 are always welcome.

You can put smiles on many more faces. Please, make a donation now to “Pedal Power for Kenyan Education” to offer this opportunity to more students, www.globalgiving.org/projects/pedal-power-for-kenyan-education/.

John Roccanova

Ancram

Community support at Sharon Hospital

As a longtime development officer for healthcare, I find joy in what I am privileged to do every day: match funding opportunities at our hospitals with the philanthropic desires of our donors. Each gift that results from such efforts is deeply fulfilling for everyone: the patients who ultimately benefit from it; the doctors, nurses and staff whose work is enhanced by it; the community that feels safer and has more options because it’s been given to their hospital; and the donors, who witness how their hopes can be translated into action.

When Sharon Hospital became part of Nuvance Health three years ago, a new philanthropic community joined the donor family. Even as we were working with leadership to assess the Hospital’s needs and present its vision, the pandemic struck — and the generosity of the Northwest Corner poured into the Hospital through our Sharon Match/Challenge. The funds raised — more than $2 million — have supported significant enhancements and improvements, such as:

• A complete wireless technology infrastructure upgrade to improve telehealth, patient experience and physician/patient communications

• A new MRI machine with a cardiovascular package, essential given the population increase and demand for services

• A comprehensive HVAC upgrade to ensure the safest ventilation and environment for patients and staff

Going forward, philanthropy will be essential to ensuring Sharon Hospital’s continued success.

While there are a few things philanthropy cannot do — such as provide year-over-year support for major medical areas — there are many more things it can do.

Some of the most successful initiatives I’ve been proud to help facilitate over the past decade have sprung from the creativity of donors and healthcare leaders working in sync. These initiatives have helped to revitalize communities, add transformational programs and cutting-edge equipment, and change the lives of patients and families.

Sharon Hospital is fortunate to serve such a passionate, dedicated community. My colleagues and I look forward to working with Sharon Hospital’s new president, Christina McCulloch, and the rest of the full-time leadership team to continue working transparently with our community, and re-envision how community support —combined with the hospital’s growth-based transformation plan — can further strengthen and expand the five-star care already provided at Sharon Hospital.

Grace Linhard

Chief Development Officer, Nuvance Health

Sharon