3M Supports Lifesavers Campaign with Capital Investments 2018 Grant

  • December 13, 2018

Mary Erickson, 3M Brookings administrative coordinator, and Dale Tidemann, 3M Brookings plant manager, present a $25,000 3M Capital Investments 2018 grant to Ambulance Director Gordon Dekkenga and Foundation Director Sara Schneider. The 3M grant supports Brookings Health System Foundation’s capital fundraising campaign to help build the new Ambulance Station and Education Center located along Yorkshire Drive.
Mary Erickson, 3M Brookings administrative coordinator, and Dale Tidemann, 3M Brookings plant manager, present a $25,000 3M Capital Investments 2018 grant to Ambulance Director Gordon Dekkenga and Foundation Director Sara Schneider. The 3M grant supports Brookings Health System Foundation’s capital fundraising campaign to help build the new Ambulance Station and Education Center located along Yorkshire Drive.

Brookings Health System Foundation recently received a $25,000 3M grant from the 3M Capital Investments 2018 program in support of the new Ambulance Station and Education Center currently being constructed along Yorkshire Drive.

The Foundation was nominated by 3M Brookings. 3M established this grant to support U.S. Site nonprofit partners with significant projects to build, upgrade, or repair facilities for their operations and/or programs. Priority is given to organizations that support 3Mgives strategies in the areas of STEM or business education, environmental programs, basic needs in the community, youth development or access to arts for underserved communities.

“We’re grateful to 3M Foundation and 3M Brookings for their continued support,” said Foundation Director Sara Schneider. “Their contribution puts us closer to our fundraising goal for the Ambulance Station and Education Center.”

To help build the new Ambulance Station and Education Center, Brookings Health System Foundation launched the Support Our Lifesavers capital fundraising campaign in September. The Foundation’s overall goal is to raise $200,000 to help offset 20% of the total building cost. Schneider emphasizes there is still time for community members to contribute and help reach the Foundation’s goal.

“As individuals and businesses consider year-end giving, we’d like them to also think about the important role emergency medical services play in our community,” said Schneider. “Supporting the Ambulance Station and Education Center not only gives our ambulance service a much needed operational headquarters, but also increases team efficiency and response times which means everything in a medical emergency.”

The new station location is strategically placed to service the majority of call volume for both the city and county while maintaining strong access to respond to other advanced life support calls throughout the local area. It also places the ambulance service in close proximity to Brookings Hospital and the ER. When completed later this winter, it will house all four advanced life support vehicles, the mass casualty vehicle and the mobile first-aid station trailer under the same roof as staff offices and living quarters.

The new station will also enable the ambulance service to attend to the growing needs of the community. In 2017, Brookings Health System’s ambulance service made over 2,285 calls, a 40% increase in call volume since 2009.

Community members or businesses interested in giving to the Support Our Lifesavers campaign may donate online at www.brookingshealth.org/SupportOurLifesavers or may contact Schneider directly at (605) 696-8855 or email foundation@brookingshealth.org.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes the 49-bed Brookings Hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, and medical clinics in Arlington, White and Volga, South Dakota. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, surgical and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.

About Brookings Health System Foundation

The mission of Brookings Health System Foundation is “Inspiring people to support Brookings Health System through philanthropy, recognizing the vital role of local healthcare in sustaining quality of life in our community.” Gifts to the Foundation support charity health care for those less fortunate, health and wellness education, facility, equipment, and technology upgrades and other needs as they arise at Brookings Health System. For more information about Brookings Health System Foundation or how you may contribute, please contact Foundation Director Sara Schneider at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org.