Moniker Better Reflects Area Served by ThedaCare Foundation-New London
The Wolf River Area Healthcare Foundation is getting renamed ThedaCare Foundation-New London to better identify it with ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, the hospital it serves.
ThedaCare Foundation-New London was founded in 2003 to secure financial resources to ensure ThedaCare Medical Center-New London offers state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, education and outreach. After New London Family Medical Center changed its name to ThedaCare Medical Center-New London earlier this year, Foundation leaders decided a new identity would tie the two more closely together.
“We wanted our name to mirror the name of the hospital we support and to tie the two identities together so when people support ThedaCare Foundation-New London, they clearly understand what hospital their dollars are supporting,” said Heather Stern, executive director of the Foundation.
Over the past 11 years, ThedaCare Foundation-New London has supported several initiatives at the hospital, including remodeling the Birth Center, adding a chapel at the hospital, and adding a new chemotherapy suite. Several other projects outside of the hospital have also been funded, such as a new therapy room at ThedaCare Physicians-Clintonville.
“The Foundation’s new name ties right back into the facility we support and there’s no confusion. While the Wolf River name was very nice, it wasn’t always clear who we supported,” said Kerry Griebenow, president of the ThedaCare Foundation-New London Board of Directors. “While we mainly support the hospital, we will still also support other community health initiatives, too. That hasn’t changed.”
Another thing that hasn’t changed is that all money raised locally for projects at ThedaCare Medical Center-New London will stay in the community, Griebenow said. “While we are more closely aligning ourselves with other ThedaCare foundations, funds raised here will stay here. By joining with some of the other foundations, we can take advantages of efficiencies, such as accounting and marketing,” he said. “This way, we can focus more on supporting the local hospital and its employees as they provide the best possible care for patients right here in our community.”
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of seven hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center-New London, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. Community Health Network, which includes Community Memorial Hospital in Berlin, and Wild Rose Memorial Hospital are in the process of affiliating with ThedaCare. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, and ThedaCare At Home. ThedaCare is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
