Methodist Health System Foundation proved to be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to help build a tall building in a single campaign by exceeding its goal of $20 million for the BrightER capital campaign—the most ambitious fundraising effort in Methodist’s 86 year history. Methodist Foundation celebrated the campaign’s “super” $20,149,612 success on June 12 at the Cloud Nine Café in Reunion Tower with a dazzling display of fun and fantasy. The funds benefit the Charles A. Sammons Tower at Methodist Dallas, which is set to open next month. April Box Chamberlain, president and CEO of Methodist Health System Foundation, and Chris Kleinert, chair of the BrightER Capital Campaign Committee, hosted this special event to thank supporters.
While similar events may come off as stodgy as Clark Kent, this celebration was more akin to Kent’s alter ego — filled with heart-stopping heroics, spectacular surprises, and unforgettable entertainment. It began with a welcome from Kleinert followed by the invocation delivered by Bishop Mike McKee, Bishop of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Kleinert thanked Honorary Co-Chairs Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt and the BrightER campaign committee for their extraordinary efforts, and then made a major announcement. “On September 11, 2012, Methodist broke ground on the Charles A. Sammons Tower, one of the largest investments south of the Trinity River in decades. A $5 million gift from the Charles A. Sammons Foundation began the campaign, and I am pleased to announce that there is a gift that has put the campaign over the $20 million mark. That gift is $750,000 from The Meadows Foundation. In celebration of the campaign and the imminent opening of this extraordinary facility, tonight the Reunion ball will be lit in Methodist colors and signature daisy.”
April Box Chamberlain thanked those in attendance including Methodist leadership, board members, and the Sammons Corporation. “You are all here today because you chose to be a hero, stepping up to the challenge, and meeting the need. Chris Kleinert is one such hero. He agreed to chair this BrightER Campaign on his first visit to Methodist Dallas Medical Center. It was then I named him as our own Clark Kent. Once he saw the vision and understood the importance of what Methodist Dallas and exceptional trauma care means to our entire city, he transformed from a mild mannered businessman to a superhero.”
Chamberlain, along with Dr. Bob Simonson, medical director of emergency services, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, thanked Kleinert and presented him with an honorary white coat.
Chamberlain commented on the perfect view of Methodist Dallas from Cloud Nine at Reunion Tower. Highlighting the view of Methodist Dallas behind her, Chamberlain exclaimed, “Did you see that? Look, up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane?” Dressed in a Superman outfit, (an animated) Chris Kleinert was spotted on top of Methodist Dallas flying toward Reunion Tower. Amidst gasps of excitement, a real Superman arrived and presented his cape to a surprised Chris Kleinert, saying, “This looks like a job for Superman.”
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Kleinert thanked Chamberlain and her leadership and then turned the surprise back to Chamberlain by presenting her with her own superhero cape. To the audience, he said, “All of you are the true heroes. Please see the monitor for a special message from all of us.” Video monitors revealed a plane in clouds above Methodist Dallas skywriting “Thank You” to all the heroes in attendance.
About the Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas
The $122 million Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas is scheduled for completion in July. The ground breaking of the center was held on September 11, 2012 in the remembrance of the selfless sacrifice of the first responders who help those in need of critical care. The one-of-a-kind 248,000-square-foot trauma and critical care center will expand the hospital’s emergency department ten-fold and include: 58 new emergency room beds, six trauma suites, eight surgical suites, a 36-bed critical care unit, and the ability to expand to 11 stories of growth. The new tower will serve the 1,500 trauma patients the Methodist Dallas Medical Center helps every year.
Other significant gifts include:
$1,000,000 and above
The Folsom Family
Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt
Sammons Enterprises, Inc.
Pat and Pete Schenkel
Dr. Bob and Jean Smith Foundation
$500,000 - $999,999
John and Nita Ford; Traci and Sean Owen; Tammy and Jim McGowan
Hillcrest Foundation
The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation
The Meadows Foundation
$100,000 - $499,000
Dr. Sam Ahn
Atmos Energy
Austin Commercial
Katherine C. Carmody Trust
Hawn Foundation
Hoblitzelle Foundation
Ashlee and Chris Kleinert
Laboratory Physicians Associates
Methodist Dallas Medical Center Auxiliary
The Lupe Murchison Foundation
$50,000 - $99,000
Associates in Surgical Acute Care/Dallas Orthopaedic Trauma Institute
Horace C. Cabe Foundation
Duda Family Foundation
Ernest Dunn, M.D.
Ernst & Young LLC
Dr. Sylvia Hargrave
Heather L. Hunt
Methodist Hospitals of Dallas Guild
Steven and Dawn Moore
Brian J. Ratner Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Seegers Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Charles M. Sloan
Dr. Emmanuel E. Ubinas- Brache
Note to Editor: Photos available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/supermanphotos
About Methodist Health System
Guided by the founding principles of life, learning and compassion, Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org. Connect with them through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/socialmedia.
About Methodist Dallas
Methodist Dallas Medical Center is a 515-bed hospital located just south of downtown Dallas. The medical center serves as the teaching and referral center for Methodist Health System. Physicians trained at medical schools from across the United States and all over the world participate in Methodist Dallas’ residency programs in internal medicine, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. Designated as a Level II trauma center, Methodist Dallas is a crucial part of the Dallas County trauma plan. The hospital provides a high level of tertiary-care services, including adult trauma care, multi-organ transplant services, nationally rated high-risk infant care, and neuro-critical care. The hospital is a primary recipient of trauma occurring within southwest Dallas and the surrounding region, treating more than 1,500 trauma patients and over 60,000 emergency patients each year from a 150-mile radius. The hospital’s existing 25,000-square-foot Emergency/Trauma Center was last renovated in 1999.