The Foundation supports health care in our communities by encouraging:
- A health care environment that is inviting, comfortable and safe.
- A work climate where employees are engaged in meaningful work characterized by teamwork, collaboration and cooperation.
- A deep connection between St. Mary's and Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics and the communities they serve.
Our goals are to pass on the virtue of giving, promote high-quality health care in a rural setting, make caring an everyday event, serve as connection between the community and the hospitals, and keep doing what works. |
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The Essentia Health Regional Foundation was established in 2010 to truly impact the lives of patients and families in need whom we are honored to serve.
We are able to accomplish our mission through the visionary and generous financial support of caring individuals and organizations committed to inspiring change in the lives and well beings of others.
Founded in Fargo back in 1926 by pioneering physicians who believed there had to be a better way to care the sick and heal their suffering, our journey first began as Dakota Clinic, then as Innovis Health and now as the West Region of Essentia Health. Throughout time, our founding principals have never changed. Today, we proudly continue their legacy of caring by being one of the upper Midwest’s most respected hospitals and recognized regionally as a mission driven organization dedicated to providing exceptional patient centered care throughout the entire community.
To fulfill Essentia Health’s mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, we passionately engage highly skilled and purpose driven physicians, nurses and care teams who are called to heal the sick, ease the pain of those who are suffering and provide hope to those in despair.
As a foundation and as an organization, we believe that strength and virtue have no value unless they are used to benefit others so with that core value in mind, we focus our resources on supporting care efforts that enhance patient experiences, improve outcomes and advance the art and science of healing in our state of the art, 133 bed hospital and 25 supporting clinics throughout the region.
As a part of the comprehensive Essentia Health network, we are a non-profit, physician led organization committed to careful leverage system strengths, sharing knowledge and experiences and investing entrusted community resources to provide the most comprehensive medical care in our communities thus ensuring healthcare remains local, there is access for all in need and thought out the care process, the patient remains at the heart of everything we do.
With generous philanthropic support, we are able to provide all patients and families who enter our doors in search of hope and healing, regardless of their ability to pay, with lifesaving medical equipment, innovative medical care, state of the art facilities, research and health education as we strive to fulfill our purpose and calling by being a trusted voice and healing hand to those in need. |
- Mark Holtz
- Deb Magnuson
- Shar Vetter
- Kyle Barlow
- Andrew Hanson
- Bob Klein
- Donna Hentges
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 Susan Omdalen
Director of Development
Email
701-364-7784
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 Pamela Perleberg
Development Associate
Email
701-364-8389
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To volunteer at the Foundation events or the Essentia Health hospital on 32nd Avenue South, Fargo, N.D., please contact Kerri Anderson at (710) 364-8898 or kerri.Anderson@essentiahealth.org.
If you are interested, please fill out this Volunteer Application and take or mail it to Essentia Health-Regional Foundation, 3000 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103. |
Grants funded:
Virginia OB Department Grant for new sofa beds: $8,000 (August, 2015)
Virginia Opthalmology Department Visual Field Analyzer: $14,000 (August, 2015)
Virginia Emergency Room ECG Simulator to be used for training: $910 (January, 2016)
Virginia Care Center Alpha-Stim Pain Management and Depression Equipment: $1,195 (January, 2016)
Virginia Urgent Care Digital Vital Signs Monitor with Pediatric Attachments: $1,272 (April, 2016)
Virginia Audiology Department VRA System: $3,992 (May, 2016)
Virginia Clinic Adjustable Exam Table: $4,921 (June, 2016)
Apply for Grants:
To apply for a grant, please contact Katy Morgan at katy.morgan@essentiahealth.org to get an application.
Grant Calendar:
Essentia Health-Virginia Regional Foundation Board meets the first Tuesday of every month. Grant applications are due 10 business days before the meeting.
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At Essentia Health - Virginia Regional Foundation, we are excited when individuals or groups come to us with an idea to support an area of health care they are passionate about. Volunteer fundraisers are effective ways of bringing attention to and rallying people and causes. Foundation staff will work with you to help you develop or enhance a fundraiser for a cause you want to support. All of the proceeds from your event will directly benefit the Essentia program you choose.
It is now easier than ever to plan a fundraiser to support Virginia Regional Foundation. The Foundation now offers an online fundraising tool you can use to create a website customized for your event, complete with e-mail capabilities. Through your personal website, you can set up individual or participant pages and accept donations and pledges online. For more information, contact Katy Morgan at katy.morgan@essentiahealth.org
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Community Health Grants Funded
2015 Grant recipients include:
- Second Harvest North Central Food Bank - $5000
- Mounted Eagles - $5,000
- Bridges of Hope- $7,500
- Brainerd Rotary Foundation Strive Program - $2,500
- Breezy Point Police Department - $8,000
- Lakes Area Interfaith Caregivers - $5,000
- Breath of Life Adult Day Service - $5,000
- United Way Get Connected - $2,250
- Priceless 4 Purpose - $2,000
- Mount Ski Gull - $2,500
- Mission Township Fire Department - $8,216
- Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen - $5,000
- Brainerd Public Library Emergency Preparedness- $2,670
Apply for Grants
If you would like to apply for a grant from Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Foundation, your application must focus on community needs in the Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Clinics service area. Applicants must be nonprofits or governmental agencies and meet our criteria.
Applications for Community Health Grants are due the first day of February, April, June, August, October and December. Applicants will be notified within 60 days. Unfortunately, we cannot fund every request.
Take Heart AED Requests
If you would like to apply to receive an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) please complete the form below and email to Chris.Christy@essentiahealth.org or mail to St. Joseph's Foundation, 523 North Third Street, Brainerd, MN 56401. Applicants will be notified within 60 days.
AED Application Request Form.pdf |
At Essentia Health St. Mary’s Foundation, we’re pleased and grateful when community members come to us with an idea to support an area of healthcare they’re passionate about. Volunteer fundraisers are effective ways of bringing attention to a cause and rallying people around it. Foundation staff will work with you to help develop or enhance a fundraiser for your cause. All of the proceeds from your event will directly benefit the Essentia Health St. Mary’s program you choose.
Examples of volunteer fundraisers: Jon & Sons Disposal Service sold pink garbage cans and donated the proceeds to Essentia Health St. Mary’s chemotherapy program, through their “Kick Cancer to the Curb” campaign. An area fitness center took a collection during the holidays, also to benefit our oncology patients.
It is now easier than ever to plan a fundraiser to support St. Mary’s Foundation. Let your creativity be your guide! For more information, please contact LeAnn Mouw at (218) 847-0867 or leann.mouw@essentiahealth.org. |
+ Morris and Julie Arnzen |
Morris and Julie Arnzen have given to the both Foundations since 1995. The couple donates each month and every year they increase the amount of their monthly donation.
To date they have donated more than $18,000. Morris, who is currently the St. Mary’s Hospital Cottonwood Foundation board chairman, is always the first one to offer his help at our events – anything from setting up tables and chairs, to putting up decorations or barbecuing at the golf scramble. The generosity of the Arnzens and people like them is helping bring high-quality health care to patients and the community. |
+ Linda Hunt – Lasting Imprint Member |
St. Mary’s has been a part of Linda’s life since the beginning, having grown up in the area and being the first in her family (fifth out of eight siblings) to actually be born in the hospital. Plus, Linda’s own children were born at St. Mary’s. When Linda had a chance to become a part of St. Mary’s by serving on the board, she “was ecstatic.” Her service presented a way to make a difference. “When there was the opportunity to start a foundation for the hospital – we did it,” Linda says.
Linda has since moved on from serving, but has left a lasting gift by naming St. Mary’s -- now Essentia Health St. Mary’s -- as the beneficiary of her life insurance policy. “I chose life insurance because it was a way to leverage my charitable dollars. By paying the premium for the policy, I could provide for a much larger contribution on my death than I could through listing St. Mary’s in my will.” St. Mary’s is part of Linda’s life story and she is doing her part to ensure the hospital continues to be a part of other people’s stories for many years to come. She says, “I really want to help the community by making sure we keep St. Mary’s as a viable medical provider.” |
+ Jane Bergquist – Employee Donor |
My name is Jane Bergquist. I have worked at Essentia Health since May of 2001. I have been married for 38 years and have two children, Jody and Casey, whom I’m proud to say both work here. I have two nieces that work here as well. I started out working as a Housekeeper in 2001 and I now manage 30 GREAT STAFF in Environmental Services. I became a Roots member when I first started and then was asked to be on the Committee. It truly was an honor being asked to serve on such a worthwhile Committee. All the money raised is employee-donated, which says a lot for our organization and the people who work here, because we have 85% of our employees who donate to Roots. All the money stays at our facility and is used for a lot of different projects within our facility. I am very proud to be a Roots Member and I look forward to being on the Committee for years to come. |
+ Jared Aelony, DPM – physician donor |
I’ve been a Podiatrist here at Essentia Health St. Mary’s – Detroit Lakes, since 2009. I think it is really important to be a part of Essentia Health St. Mary’s Foundation, to support facility improvements and expansion. Facility improvements make it possible for us to offer the best quality of care and current technology to our patients, and it allows us to provide that care here in Detroit Lakes. If we had to rely only on reimbursements from insurance or other payers, we would not be able to make these improvements. As a donor and physician, I think philanthropy is so important that I am also a member of St. Mary’s Foundation Major Gifts Committee. |
 There is life after breast cancer and Wendy Sandelin is sharing it with others.
Wendy Sandelin is a 10-year breast cancer survivor. She is only 40, and she has a lot of life left. Like many young women who are diagnosed early, Sandelin recovered, and survivorship has been a big part of her cancer journey.
"Connecting with other women who are in a similar situation is really important," said Sandelin. "You have to learn how to live with having had breast cancer. And you have to learn how to move forward."
Sandelin and her husband Scott were living in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when she was first diagnosed. She was 30 weeks pregnant. The next week she had surgery, and two weeks after her son Ryan was born, she started chemotherapy. "It was exhausting, but I had a lot of help," said Sandelin.
When her family moved to Duluth, her physician at Mayo continued her care in collaboration with the doctors at the SMDC Breast Health Center. She has had reconstructive surgeries and ongoing tests.
Her doctors at the Breast Health Center also guided her through her decision to have another baby. Because her cancer was diagnosed during her pregnancy, there was a concern that hormonal changes during a second pregnancy could trigger a recurrence. Doctors were also unsure if she could get pregnant after going through chemotherapy.
Her caregivers worked as a team, monitoring her throughout the pregnancy. Today, the Sandelins can't imagine life without 3-year-old daughter Katie.
Still cancer free at the 10-year mark, Sandelin was recently discharged from ongoing care. Her involvement in the Breast Health Center has continued, however. When a young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, Sandelin is among the survivors who are called on to offer them support. She is also part of one of the Breast Health Center support groups, the Duluth chapter of the Young Survival Coalition, where she connects with other women who are experiencing the same things she is.
Because she feels it is important to give back in whatever ways she can, Sandelin is on the Soul + Science Campaign team to raise money for the Breast Health Center. As a nurse anesthetist at SMDC Medical Center and a breast cancer survivor, she brings a unique perspective to her role.
She also has a unique understanding of the benefits the campaign will bring to the Breast Health Center. "The things we are raising money for are extremely important to women who will go through their breast cancer journey," said Sandelin. "The effects will trickle down to women's families and their communities." |
Giving to Essentia Health St. Mary’s Foundation means helping those who need our care, close to home. You can designate your gift to any of our current fundraising projects:
- Obstetrics Upgrade – a complete renovation to provide babies and their families a warm welcome. Our latest project, with a total cost of $2 million.
- Cancer Care Fund -- helping advance care and treatments
- Trauma Care Fund -- upgrading equipment to improve care
- Scholarship Fund -- assisting employees with education
- Patient Crisis Fund -- providing resources for those in need
- Bereavement Fund – assisting parents who have experienced the loss of a child
You can also choose another project or allow us to direct your gift to the area of greatest need. We are so grateful for your support. |
Foundation Address:
Essentia Health Regional Foundation
3000 32nd Ave. S.
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 364-8389 |
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