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GRAND F ORKS , N ORTH D AKO TA

Vol. 31, No. 1 Published for friends and supporters of Altru Health Foundation February 2015

TAGThe Art of Givingreaches newmilestone ofsupportingpatient care. page 6

altru.org/foundation

Your comments, concerns and questionsare always welcome.

PLEASE CONTACTAlex Colestock, editoracolestock@altru.org701.780.5611

Legacy is published as a service of Altru Health Foundation.

ALTRU HEALTH FOUNDATIONP.O. Box 6002Grand Forks, ND 58206-6002701.780.5600altru.org/foundation

Jon Green, Executive Director

Randy Schoenborn, Client Development Director

Diane Blair, Grant Program Director

Alex Colestock, Client Communications Director

Ann Blegen, Administrative Assistant

altru.org/foundation

From the DirectorRecently I heard a very thought provoking comment. “What if we woke up

tomorrow and all we had was what we expressed thanks for today?”

Every day I am thankful for you and the thousands of generous individualswho support the needs of our patients. I am in awe of the kindness andcompassion expressed through our donor’s gifts.

Your gifts directly impact individual’s lives. The pie chart and informationon the opposite page provides examples of the difference you have made inpatient care programs, services, and equipment. The list is only a small sampleof your accomplishments. Thank you for the trust you have placed in us atAltru Health Foundation to be a good steward of your gifts.

Without your generosity, Altru would not have been able to accomplish whatyour gifts have made possible. Shrinking reimbursements plus increasing costsmakes it necessary to seek public support.

Thank you on behalf of the true beneficiaries of your generosity – thepatients.

I wish you the best of health always.

Respectfully,

Jon GreenExecutive Director

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5K RUN/WALK BENEFITTING COLON CANCER

June 11, 2016 | 8 a.m. | Lincoln Park

Altru.org/runforyourbuns

2016

ALTRU HEALTH FOUNDATIONBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Monica Musich, Chairperson President, Valley Dairy/Valley Dairy CarWash

Gregg Halverson, Vice Chairperson CEO, Black Gold Farms

Dave Kvidt, Secretary/TreasurerCFO, Lunseth Plumbing & Heating

Bill Haug, Honorary ChairpersonBranch Manager, Stifel Nicolaus

Corey ClevelandSenior Vice President, United ValleyBank

Sandy DittusAttorney, Zimney Foster P.C.

Amanda BentowCommunity Representative

Bill WidmanPresident, C.L. Linfoot Company

Robin Hape, M.D.Physician, Altru Health System

Lori Reesor, Ph. D.Vice President of Student Affairs,University of North Dakota

Skip GreenbergPresident, Greenberg Realty

Jon Green, ex-officioExecutive Director, Altru HealthFoundation

Dave Molmen, ex-officioCEO, Altru Health System

Eric Lunn, M.D., ex-officioPresident, Altru Health System

COVER PHOTO

The Art of Giving, Katie Bergner,Jason Restemayer, and SallyMiskavige

How Your Gifts HelpedPatients in 2015Here are just some of the ways your gifts have made a difference in thecommunities Altru serves.

Patient Assistance» Caring for Kids» Charitable care» Colorectal cancer screenings for financially eligible patients» Diabetes Center – free foot and vision care to financially eligible patients» Filling the Gap» Free mammograms to financially eligible patients» Healthy n’ Fit Kids» Hospice pain medications and care» Prescription assistance» Spin for Kids (pediatric rehab therapies) scholarships

Patient Care Equipment» Blood bank equipment» Blood pressure monitors» Cardiology equipment» Child Life program equipment» Diabetes monitoring equipment» Electronic stethoscopes for Telemedicine » Giraffe OmniBed for NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)» Pulmonary equipment» Telemedicine equipment for rural clinics» Renal Dialysis equipment» Rehab pediatric therapy diagnostic and treatment equipment» Hospice equipment

Patient Care Programs/Services» Ambulance Services» Autism Screening Clinic» Camp Good Mourning» Cancer patient clinical trials through Mayo Clinic» Cardio/pulmonary rehab» Caring for Kids—assisting families battling pediatric cancer» Colorectal cancer awareness and education» Holistic Care through complementary therapies» Infant Bereavement Program» MS (multiple sclerosis) Clinic» Pediatric Therapy Services» Reach Out and Read» Stroke awareness education» Suicide prevention» Tobacco Cessation

Patient assistance

Patient care equipment

Patient care programs/services

Third Street Clinic support

Total: $2,496,158

$1,092,572

$758,488

$525,098

$120,000

orkids

Bill Widman, President of local company C.L. Linfoot, joined the Altru HealthFoundation Board of Directors in June 2012. As a member of the board Bill has served asa Cancer Center Golf Tournament Co-Chair and participated in many Altru HealthFoundation Events.

Bill first went to work for C.L. Linfoot in 1972, and became owner and president ofthe company in 1980. In addition to being on the Altru Health Foundation Board ofDirectors Bill also serves on the St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Council inThompson, ND.

“We are very fortunate to have 13 devoted and engaged community members thatcompromise Altru Health Foundation’s board of directors, of which Bill is a part of. Bill’s

and the board’s leadership are invaluable to our work,” remarked Jon Green, Executive Director, Altru Health Foundation.

Bill, a Grand Forks native, is son of the late George and Betty Widman, of the renowned Widman’s Candy. Bill and hiswife Cheryl, live in Reynolds, ND.

Bill Widman

Focus on the Board

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All proceeds benefit children in ourcommunities with special needs

For more information, please call Altru’sPediatric Therapy Services at 701.780.2477or go online to altru.org/spinforkids

savethedate

spinforkidsfor

Saturday, April 16, 20168:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Red River High SchoolGrand Forks, ND

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11, 2016

Altru Health Foundation will participate in Giving Hearts Day, a 24-houronline fund raising event on February 11. Donations of $10 or more madeto Altru Health Foundation at impactgiveback.org on this day will bematched up to $10,000, courtesy of Altru Alliance, C & R Cleaners andLaundry – Don & Patricia Larsen, Dakota Medical Foundation, McDonald’s –Mike & Cindy O’Keefe, Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling – SadieGardner, Truyu, and Yvonne Nelson. All proceeds raised will benefit Altru’sInfant Bereavement Program.

Altru’s Infant Bereavement Program started in 1989. The programoriginated in the Family Birthing Center, as they saw a need for support forfamilies who were unable to bring their child home with them. The programhas expanded to fulfill the need of grief support for families who havemiscarried under 20 weeks of conception, to stillborn births, to losing achild from illness or accident.

For infant deaths, packets are given to families which include a babyring, crocheted booties and blankets, grief management books, and a teddybear. Research shows that mothers physically ache for something in theirarms, which is why Pastoral Services provides teddy bears. Those bearsmost certainly do not replace their baby, but can help ease the pain insome ways. Other services the program offers are memory boxes, infantburial boxes, as well as a monthly support group.

Double Your Impacton Giving Hearts DayDonations to Altru Health Foundation are matched up to $10,000 onGiving Hearts Day; proceeds benefit Altru’s Infant Bereavement Program.

To help support grievingfamilies, go to

impactgiveback.org onFebruary 11 and donate toAltru Health Foundation.

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Since their small start nine year ago, TAG – The Art ofGiving, has raised over $100,000 to support patients andpatient care at Altru Health System. What started as asimple wine and cheese party has evolved into a large artevent. TAG is one of the largest events of its kind in NorthDakota with people lining up to get in when the doorsopen to get their favorite pieces before they are gone.

Katie Bergner, TAG Co-founder said, “TAG stands forthe art of giving. It was started nine years ago. We had agroup of artist friends and we wanted to do kind of an artparty. We invited a bunch of artists and all of their art weput in our friends house. We invited friends and familyand we had a huge event.”

Bergner explained the group has donated to a varietyof causes over the years, "We just asked what needs help"she said. Works by local artists Adam Kemp, Ben Brien,Guillermo Guardia and others were showcased in the show.

Funds from the annual art benefit have bought aNICU giraffe omni bed as well as supported the DiabetesCenter, Autism Screening Clinic, Pediatric Diabetes,Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer. Over the years,hundreds of patients at Altru have benefitted from thefunds raised at this great event. This wouldn't be possiblewithout the community's support of TAG includingdonations from local businesses, artists, volunteers andparticipating art enthusiasts.

“I plan on staying in Grand Forks my whole life andyou never know when you may need care. We want the

best in our community,” said Sally Miskavige, TAG founder. “We have been happy to see the impact Tdonations make at Altru.”

Last year TAG took place on November 10. The of Altru’s Professional Center at Altru’s south camp filled with over 300 original creations from artists the region. Artists donated 30% of the proceeds to Renal Dialysis services totaling $25,000 benefittin Renal Dialysis Center.

With the proceeds Altru’s Renal Dialysis Cente able to purchase items to make patients more comduring their time in the dialysis center. Treatments Dialysis Center can take anywhere from 3-5 hours three times a week.

In addition to this year’s donation of $25,000, has also donated three pieces of art—one piece by Kemp and the other two by Kelly Thompson—to AlRenal Dialysis Center. The works will be hung in th sitting room. When presenting the pieces to Altru HFoundation Board of Directors, Sally expressed her support for holistic healing and the importance of art in a place of healing.

“It’s remarkable. We’re so grateful for Katie BeSally Miskavige, and Jason Restemayer, the organizbehind TAG, and all of our donors in this effort,” s Green, executive director of Altru Health Foundatio

TAG RAISES OVER $100,000FOR PATIENT CARE AT ALTRU HEALTH SYSTEM

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Myra FoundationGrants $5,000 toAltru’s MusicTherapy Program Altru started its Music Therapyprogram only five months ago whenBoard Certified Music Therapist, LeslieSaulsbury, was hired. Leslie has hadan impact on many patients facingchronic pain, high levels of stress andanxiety, emotional and spiritualdistress, and grief.

Music Therapy is a part of Altru’sgoals to foster an environment thatembraces holistic personal care.Holistic care is the healing process ofthe whole individual during their stayat Altru, not just physical butemotionally and mentally. With theMyra Foundation Grant Altru has beenable to purchase more musicalequipment which will make it possiblefor Leslie to reach more patients.

In her time at Altru Leslie hasseen many patients but some stand outto her. “George” was an older patientwho was on the general medical floor.Along with his physical ailments,George was in the advanced stages ofdementia. Due to his hospitalization,George became very agitated, confusedand aggressive. One morning Lesliearrived on the floor and found Georgeyelling at his nurses and trying to hitanyone who came near him. His familywas very concerned because usuallyGeorge didn’t have these behaviors.Leslie entered George’s room with herguitar and began to play and sing.Almost instantaneously George layback in his bed and became calm.While he listened to the music, Georgeclosed his eyes, realized and beganmouthing the words. Shortly Georgebegan to sing. The use of musictherapy calmed George and allowed thenurses to continue his care andcomforted his family.

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October Fundraisers Bring in Over$5,000 for Altru Cancer Center

Eat Pizza. Help Fight Cancer. Over the month of October local pizza restaurant, Spicy Pie, gave 10

cents per slice of pizza and 50 cents per pizza pie sold to raise over$2,100. The annual fundraiser helps raise money for local cancer centersand hospitals throughout North Dakota.

Customers could also choose to make additional donations in anyamount. With any donation of $5 or more, customers received a free pizzaslice coupon. If customers made a $5 donation on any Monday of thatmonth they received a free cheese or pepperoni pizza. The totals raised ateach location stay in that same community. In total Spicy Pie raised over$10,000 to give to cancer centers near their locations.

Dusterhoft Family Stores host their 3rdannual “We tend the Pumps, You Tendthe Lumps” fundraiser

With every purchase at a Dusterhoft store customerswere invited to donate a $1 for Breast Cancer Awarenessmonth. For every dollar donated Dusterhoft Family Storesdonated an additional dollar.

In the three year history of their ‘Turn Pink for a Cure’fundraiser they have raised over $5,000 for Altru CancerCenter.

UND’s Nonprofit Leadership StudentAssociation Flock for Cancer

UND’s NonprofitLeadership StudentAssociation (NLSA)raised over $1,000 tosupport patients atAltru Cancer Center inobservation of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness. TheNLSA is a club at UND that is a part of the NonprofitLeadership program. Each year they choose to support alocal nonprofit through fundraising and volunteerism.

This year the NLSA started a Flamingo Fundraiser, orflocking. For $15 community members could picksomeone’s yard to flock and the NLSA would place theflamingos in the chosen victim’s yard.

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Throughout Altru Health System, patients who arehearing impaired and their families undergo challengeswhen communicating with their health care team. Clearcommunication is vital for a patient to understand theirhealth care needs and the required treatments.Pockettalkers enable patients who are hearing impairedand do not have their own assistive devices tocommunicate with their health care team.

In February of 2015 Sertoma Club of Greater GrandForks donated almost $3,000 to purchase 26pockettalkers for Altru. When hearing situations provemost challenging, the pocketalker makes it possible forpatients to hear family, physicians, and nurses. These

compact devices can be distributed to patients and familymembers who are hearing impaired but forget theirhearing aid or do not own one. The pocketalker amplifiessound clearly and easily for better understanding. Thepockettalkers are also equipped with a Telelink adapter,which allows listeners to amplify telephone calls to acomfortable listening level.

The pockettalkers are available to every patient orfamily in need of these devices throughout their hospitalstay as well as for outpatient visits at Altru Clinics inGrand Forks. Physicians and nurses can recommend theuse of pockettalkers for use in either.

Sertoma Club of Greater Grand ForksDonates Pockettalkers to Altru Health System

Pockettalkers enable

patients who are

hearing impaired and

do not have their own

assistive devices to

communicate with

their health care team.

IRA CharitableRollover NowPermanentWhen Bill and Joanne Haug learnedabout congress reinstating a law thatallows them to make a tax-free giftfrom their individual retirementaccount they immediately called JonGreen at Altru Health Foundation, tomake their gift.

The Details:

» You are age 70½ or older at thetime of the gift.

» You transfer up to $100,000directly from your IRA. Thisopportunity applies only to IRAsand not other types of retirementplans.

» You transfer the funds outright toone or more qualified charities.The legislation does not permitdirect transfers to charitabletrusts, donor advised funds,charitable gift annuities orsupporting organizations.

To learn more aboutendowments and the IRACharitable rollover call JonGreen at 701.780.5837 or visithttp://altru.planmylegacy.org/rollover-now-permanent.

Jon GreenExecutive Director

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ImpactofGivingIn 2015 your gifts changed the lives of your neighbors, family, andstrangers. Without you this would not be possible. These are a couple of theways you have changed and saved lives in 2015.

8 families and 8 individuals have received scholarships to learn how tolive a healthy lifestyle through the Healthy n’ Fit Initiative.

13 life-saving colonoscopies have been given to patients in need atno charge to them.

26 pockettalkers are making it possible for physicians and nursesto easily communicate with patients who are hearing impaired making theirhospital visit more pleasant and less confusing.

50 kids were able to go to Camp Good Mourning to learn how togrieve and cope with the loss of a loved one.

120 students in the Grand Forks community have learned aboutnutrition and exercise through Healthy n’ Fit Kids.

285 families received counseling from infant bereavementservices after the loss of their baby.

2,500kids were helped through difficult hospital visitsbecause of donations to Altru’s Child Life program.

ThankYoufor your generosity in 2015!

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Altru’s Gala raised over $270,000 last September for theHealthy n’ Fit Initiative. This included the Healthy n’ Fit Kidsand Weight Management programs. Healthy n’ Fit Kids is aprogram at Altru that helps children understand the importanceof a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise. As a result ofAltru’s Gala funds the Healthy n’ Fit program has begun todevelop a program for local schools.

Emily Spicer, a health and wellness coach at Altru, beganworking with local teachers that she knew to introduce Healthyn’ Fit programming into schools within the last semester.

“Word got out”, explains Emily, “I knew a bunch ofteachers and we figured out fun ways to talk about a healthylifestyle with kids in local schools.” As of right now Emily hasbeen a part of two Grand Forks schools and next semester shewill add another. The classes range from 3rd grade to 5thgrade.

“I go in and spend 45 minutes to an hour with each class.I talk about nutrition and fitness, as well as having a healthylifestyle,” says Emily. She gets the class moving with jumpingjacks, burpees, and other easy exercises to do inside during thewinter.

As the programs progress Emily hopes to talk to studentsabout what they have improved on each time she goes to theirclass. She is going to begin providing students with a list ofhealthy snacks. She has also asked students to log the amountof screen time they have throughout the day, which means theamount of time they spend in front of a computer or television,with the hope that they will lessen their screen time and getoutside and play more.

“We are so thrilled to see the Healthy n’ Fit Kids programgrowing because of the communities generosity at Altru’s Gala.Teaching kids a healthy lifestyle is truly changing ourcommunity for the better”, says Jon Green, executive directorat Altru Health Foundation.

For more information on the Healthy n’ Fit Kids program,please contact Emily Spicer at 701.780.6729, or go tohttp://www.altru.org/services/weight-management-program

Gala funds support Healthy n’ Fit Programs in schools

A part of Altru Health System

AltruHEALTH FOUNDATION

®

P.O. Box 6002

Grand Forks, ND

58206-6002

Address Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDFARGO, ND

PERMIT NO. 684

Support families after the loss of their baby bydonating to Altru Health Foundation

Thursday, February 11at impactgiveback.org

Donations of $10 or more at matched up to $10,000 byAltru Alliance, C & R Cleaners and Laundry – Don & Patricia

Larsen, Dakota Medical Foundation, McDonald’s – Mike & CindyO’Keefe, Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling – Sadie Gardner,

Truyu, and Yvonne Nelson.

11, 2016