Butler Health System has inaugurated a $7 million capital fund-raising effort to provide the final funds needed for the new patient tower being constructed for Butler Memorial Hospital.  Funds generated in the campaign will be used to provide furnishings and equipment for the patient tower.  The announcement was made by Fred & Sue Bennitt, of Butler Township, who are serving as campaign co-chairs. Mr. Bennitt is a former Board of Trustee chair of Butler Health System.

In making their announcement, Fred said, “This campaign, ‘Building for the Future,’ is the largest capital campaign ever conducted by Butler Health System.  Its success is crucial to the continuation of high quality health services to the residents of the Butler region.  We are certain that the people of this area will support this program enthusiastically.”

The Bennitts also announced that the campaign has been given a big boost with the receipt of a challenge pledge for $2,500,000 from the Butler Health System Foundation.  The Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, every gift donated to the campaign, up to $2.5 million.

Butler Health System Foundation board chair Patti-Ann Kanterman said, “The Butler Health System Foundation exists to provide funding to Butler Health System and feels that this project is crucial to health care for the residents of the Butler County region.  We are proud to be a leader in this effort that is so critical to the future of Butler Health System.”

The “Building for the Future” campaign will seek contributions from all segments of the community – business and industry, charitable foundations, friends of Butler Health System, employees and medical staff, and current and former Board members of BHS and its Foundation.

Construction of Butler Memorial Hospital’s new patient tower is scheduled for completion in the summer of this year.  Not only will the new patient care area be different, but public space in the new entrance will include a technologically advanced education center and auditorium, a new chapel, coffee bar, an outpatient pharmacy, durable medical equipment and more.

Access to the patient tower will be from a new entrance that comes off of an entirely new access route to the campus – a new serpentine driveway coming directly off Route 68, eliminating the need for vehicles to access the hospital through narrow neighborhood streets. The new drive will feature a traffic signal at Route 68, which will help provide a safe method of entering and exiting the campus.

Total costs for the new patient tower project (including outpatient expansion and information technology) will be about $152 million. Approximately $126 million will be funded by new money issuance and $19 million will be funded by the hospital’s existing cash reserves.  The remaining $7 million will be raised in the “Building for the Future” capital campaign.

For more information on the “Building for the Future” campaign, contact BHS Foundation at 724-284-4716.