Amador County – Amador Community Foundation on Thursday morning donated $20,000 to Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation as the first gift of 2012 for the hospital’s Matching Grant program.

On behalf of the Amador Community Foundation, Board member Stan Lukowicz and Executive Director Kathleen Harmon presented a ceremonial check to Sutter Amador Hospital CEO Anne Platt and Pat Adams, Director of Critical Care Department. Lukowicz made the donation, through the Amador Community Foundation.

Hospital officials said the Foundation gave a “most appreciated, generous and vitally necessary gift” to the Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation’s 2012 Matching Grant funding priority. Donations raised toward this year’s matching grant will go toward purchase of an Intensive Care Unit Central Monitoring System, “so Amador County residents have better, more technologically proficient lifesaving care for critically ill patients.”

Sutter Amador Hospital Foundation has received a “challenge grant” through Sutter Health that will help it “continue a tradition of healing through generosity. Every dollar that is contributed will be matched dollar for dollar through this grant.”

Sutter Amador Hospital officials said the total needed to purchase the ICU Central Monitoring System is $148,000. In order to be eligible for the match from Sutter Health, the SAH Foundation must raise $74,000 by Dec. 31. Officials said the “generous gift from Amador Community Foundation is the first donation in 2012 toward this critical need, leaving $54,000 to be raised in order to reach our goal by the deadline.”

To provide a high standard of care in its intensive care unit, SAH officials said, “a basic requirement is a working central monitoring system. While the existing central monitoring system has been a reliable tool in treating ICU patients for the past 20 years, the new system will be ready for electronic health record installation and offer more sophisticated features.”

Officials said the investment and partnership with Sutter Amador Hospital employees, physicians, leadership and community are vital to their success. All contributions made to SAH are used locally to support the current and future needs of the hospital, their patients and their families. There are many ways to make a tax-deductible gift to SAH, including estate and planned gifts. For more information or to make a gift, call Sutter Amador Hospital at (209)257-7619. Call Amador Community Foundation at (209)223-2148.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.