History

Early History of Riverview Health Care Foundation – How it All Began:

July 1982 – A special study committee was appointed to research and determine if a Deferred Giving Program should be formally established to seek and hold funds to meet the predicted changing and costly health care needs in our community. Members of this committee included: Phyllis Huffman, John Melsen, Daniel Meyer, Morgan Midthun, Terry Norris, and LeRoy Sigler.

July 1982-January 1984 - Nearly two years of research was carried out by the Deferred Giving Committee, including meetings with existing hospital foundations, development professionals, and legal consultants to determine a direction for Riverview.

January 1984 – A recommendation to establish an uncontrolled foundation was made by the Deferred Giving Committee chairman, LeRoy Sigler, to the hospital board. According to the report, the proposed foundation “would be flexible enough to respond to changing needs that would benefit the hospital”. In reviewing the purposes of a separate foundation, Mr. Sigler noted that a foundation has greater visibility in the community for charitable contributions and encourages donations by ensuring funds will meet donor wishes when they are controlled by a separate foundation board.

June 1984 – Riverview Health Care Foundation, Inc. was adopted for the Foundation’s name. This name clarified its affiliation with the hospital but also indicated a separate identity.

August 1984 - The Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation were drawn and documents were filed with the State of Wisconsin on August 9, 1984.

June 1985 – Federal income tax status – 501 (c)(3) under section 509 (a)(3) - was received from the Internal Revenue Service.

• The first board of directors for Riverview Health Care Foundation included: Roy Englehardt, John Melsen, Robert Johnson, M.D., William Huffman, and Virginia Brazeau.

• The first grant to the Foundation came from Riverview Hospital Association in the amount of $500,000 raised in the Step-Up Campaign.

• The first major individual donation was $510,000 from the Frank Walsh Estate.

The above briefly highlights how the Riverview Health Care Foundation began. Twenty-five years later, we are still going strong. We continue to help meet the growing need for excellence in wellness and health care among those in our community.