By Rosa Magnus, WWH Development Manager, with Ryma Lindquist, WWH Community Relations Director
BALDWIN, WI – On Friday, December 8, 2023, the Hardenbergh Foundation awarded the Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) Foundation a $125,000 grant for the WWH Obstetrical and Medical-Surgical Unit expansion. In 2022, the Hardenbergh Foundation contributed close to $6,000,000 to support local communities in the east metro, including Ramsey, and Washington Counties of Minnesota as well as the St. Croix River Valley in Wisconsin.
“The Hardenbergh Foundation has provided opportunities for organizations across many disciplines from environment and education to housing, health, and wellness. Western Wisconsin Health is so appreciative of their support to help our families and community stay close to home,” Rosa Magnus, Development Manager stated.
With recent birth center closures in the immediate area, WWH has seen a significant increase in birthrates over the last year, with 276 total births in 2022. In addition, there has been an ever-increasing hospitalization rate pushing WWH to its capacity causing WWH to make the difficult choice of sending patients to Twin Cities hospitals. To address WWH’s growing needs for inpatient services, a hospital expansion began in August 2023 that will add four rooms to the medical-surgical wing and three rooms to the birth center wing. Upon completion, WWH will have a total of 22 inpatient rooms (three unfinished) that will allow WWH to provide care for patients in our community and keep them close to home.
This expansion will allow WWH to provide the best patient care to a broader spectrum of people in the service area. Although very costly, WWH realizes this expansion is the right thing to do for local patients; and with that sentiment the WWH foundation along with a committee of WWH leaders have been applying for multiple grant opportunities.
Interested in learning more or how you can help the hospital expansion? Please visit the WWH foundation page: wwhealth.org/contribute.
Thank you to the Hardenbergh Foundation for this generous donation to help us imagine a healthier tomorrow!
