On October 15, Jeff Staubach, a member of Methodist Health System Foundation’s BrightER Capital Campaign steering committee, and his wife Jenny hosted a reception in their home to introduce friends and colleagues to Methodist Dallas Medical Center and the Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower’s BrightER Campaign. The BrightER campaign, a historic $20 million campaign for the Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas, has been the most ambitious in Methodist’s history. The BrightER Campaign Chairman is Chris Kleinert, and Honorary Chairs are Nancy Ann and Ray L. Hunt.
April Box Chamberlain, president and CEO of Methodist Health System Foundation, said, “We are grateful to Jeff and Jenny for sharing their home and their relationship with Methodist. It is important to tell the story of the critical need for trauma and emergency care for Dallas.”
The new six-story $108 million Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower at Methodist Dallas Medical Center is currently under construction. When open in fall 2014, this 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 for future growth.
Chris Kleinert, BrightER Capital Campaign chairman, said, “Our theme for this historic campaign is: BrightER -- Saving lives, Serving Dallas. It is my honor to announce that we have raised $13.7 million toward our goal. Together with Methodist Dallas Medical Center, each of us in this room has the opportunity to be a lifesaver, and make a lasting mark on our community and help create a city that is a safer, healthier, and better than any of us could ever dream.”
Kleinert then introduced Dr. Bob Simonson, Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s medical director of emergency medicine, and invited guests to personally tour the Methodist Dallas emergency department to get a first-hand look at the need for expanded trauma care.
Jeff Staubach added, “After touring Methodist Dallas, I realized that if you are in an accident, or a family member falls down the stairs, or slips from a ladder putting up Christmas lights – there is a one in three chance they will come to Methodist. As one of only three adult trauma centers in Dallas there is a 30 percent chance I or someone I love will need the specialized care Methodist provides. They are a critical safety-net hospital for all of Dallas. I hope you’ll join me and Jenny in supporting this important campaign.”
Gifts to date have included a $5 million lead gift from the Sammons Dallas Foundation. Other significant gifts include support from Pat and Pete Schenkel, the Robert S. Folsom family, John and Nita Ford, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, and the Hillcrest Foundation.
For those interested in learning more about the campaign and/or giving, visit Foundation.MethodistHealthSystem.org, or contact Melissa Ogden, vice president of development of Methodist Health System Foundation, melissaogden@mhd.com or call 214-947-4596.
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, Methodist Midlothian Health 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. In 2012 Methodist Health System provided more than $125 million in unreimbursed charity care. 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.
Note to Editor: Renderings available at http://www.methodisthealthsystem.org/BrightER