One gift. Three projects. A community cared for.

In early 2021, Kearney, Nebraska’s CHI Health Good Samaritan Foundation received its largest donation to date courtesy of an exceptionally generous anonymous donor. The transformational $5.25 million contribution is being used to fund three significant projects for the benefit of the hospital’s patients.

"We're honored to be the recipient of such deep generosity given to improve the health of our community," says Randy DeFreece, director of the Good Samaritan Foundation. "This gift ensures everyone in our region has access to important services so they don't have to travel for care. We're incredibly grateful the donor shares our same mission."

The gift will make possible advances in care across multiple areas of the hospital. Plans are being solidified to purchase new Positron Emission Tomography - Computed Tomography (PET/CT) equipment, costing $2.3 million, to replace an older system located in the hospital's cancer center. The only system in the 225 miles between North Platte and Lincoln, the equipment’s high-tech images capture changes at the cellular level, identifying diseases like cancer, in their earliest stages.

"This gift ensures everyone in our region has access to important services so they don't have to travel for care. We're incredibly grateful the donor shares our same mission."

Another $2.2 million is being utilized to convert one of the hospital's three cardiac catheterization labs to a dedicated hybrid cath lab. With the added ability for both surgical and intravascular procedures to be performed in the same room, the hybrid cath lab will enable the hospital to provide new vascular, interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic procedures traditionally found only in larger metropolitan facilities.

The remaining $750,000 will fund a refresh of Good Samaritan’s Wellness Center, originally opened in 2000. The renovation will replace cardio and weight equipment, furniture and televisions as well as update the general aesthetic of the facility. Another area of focus will be one of the center's drawing points, the Turttle® Pool, one of only ten facilities of its kind in the world.

"For the last year, health care has been intensely centered on COVID-19," says Michael Schnieders, president of Good Samaritan. "We're hoping to shift some of our focus back to wellness, disease prevention and continuing to provide high-quality health care close to home. We're incredibly thankful that the donor's generosity is helping us do that."

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In Gratitude.

As we close 2021, CommonSpirit Health Philanthropy will bid farewell to Randy DeFreece. Under Randy’s 20-year leadership, Good Samaritan Foundation in Kearney, Nebraska has secured nearly $50 million in support.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Randy over the past five years and have been so impressed by his hard work and dedication in taking the CHI Health Good Samaritan Foundation to a new level. I am so grateful for everything he has done and will miss Randy’s professionalism, empathy and strength,” said Kathy Bertolini, Divisional Vice President, CHI Health Foundation.

We wish Randy the best in his retirement and all that lies ahead.