JPMF Hosts Community Update, Recognizes Benefactors

A community update was held for benefactors of the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation (JPMF) on March 1. Former Representative Ralph Poppell and Parrish Medical Center (PMC) President/CEO George Mikitarian were the featured speakers, discussing current issues including health care reform and the impact it will have on community hospitals such as PMC.

J.J. Parrish III, chairman of PMC’s board of directors, thanked all JPMF benefactors for accomplishments made in 2010, including providing funding for: a Cancer Care Boutique, digital stereotactic breast biopsy technology, the Parrish Health Village, and The Children’s Center.

Parrish announced a $350,000 commitment by Sodexo Health Care that will name a new three-room hospitality house to be located on the medical center campus at the Parrish Health Village’s west end. This new commitment makes Sodexo’s total gifts and pledges more than $650,000.

To be named, “Carey’s Hospitality House by Sodexo,” in recognition of the company’s patient experience initiative known as CARES, the hospitality house will open in mid 2011. The house will provide lodging for visitors with a hospitalized family member who wish to stay close to PMC. With warm and healing ambiance, the house will be fully stocked with all the comforts of home.

Parrish also recognized three benefactors for significant commitments in 2010. The PMC Auxiliary was honored for its $300,000 pledge designated for The Children’s Center Futures Fund, making their total gifts and pledges more than $600,000. Mrs. N. Christine Sylvester was recognized for her gifts of more than $150,000 including funding for the Butterfly Garden in the Parrish Health Village in memory of her late husband, James H. Sylvester, Jr., as well as funding for The Children’s Center playground in honor of her children, Jimmy and Katherine. The Boggs Family was recognized for their gifts of more than $100,000 for the Parrish Health Village. A dedication was held after the event for these benefactors at the base of the grand staircase in the PMC Atrium where glass engraved plaques were installed on a pillar surrounding the staircase in their honor.

“We are able to do amazing things for our community because of the generosity of these benefactors. We can’t thank them enough,” says Laurie Smirl, executive director, Jess Parrish Medical Foundation.

For more information about Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, contact 321-269-4066.