Grace Cottage Receives Federal Appropriation for New Primary Care Clinic Building
From left to right, Grace Cottage’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. George Terwilliger, Board Vice President Ed Druke, Board President Martha Dale, and Congresswoman Becca Balint, as the Congresswoman presented a ceremonial check for $1.5 million for the new clinic project. Grace Cottage received a great deal of press thanks to the event, including coverage by WCAX, The Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons, and the Deerfield Valley News.
It was indeed April Fool’s Day, but it was no joke when Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint came to Grace Cottage to present a ceremonial check for $1.5 million, representing a federal appropriation for the new clinic building project.
“It is so exciting to be able to deliver some hope and help to this area,” said Balint. “I know Grace Cottage is such a focal point for so many people in the whole corridor of Route 30. I talk to so many people when I’m out and about who tell me just how much this hospital means to them. We understand that this makes a big difference, not just for this organization, but for the people who are served by it.”
This brings us to a total of $7.8 million raised in pledges and gifts for the project to date, with $12.2 million to go. We are making applications to other government entities and a variety of foundations. We are also speaking with many Grace Cottage supporters who understand that this is a critical and transformational project for the community and for our patients. For more information about the project, click here – I think you’ll enjoy the 4-minute video about the project, starring Dr. Timothy Shafer. If you’re interested in helping to make this project a reality by making a gift or a pledge, please contact Andrea Seaton or Charma Bonanno at (802) 365-9109 or info@gracecottage.org.
The 14 medical professionals who are providing more than 31,000 patient visits per year in the Grace Cottage Family Health clinic are eager for this new building, which will greatly increase efficiency, privacy, and comfort for the patients that they care for.
Best Place to Work Award
Six Grace Cottage employees traveled to Burlington on March 26 to accept Grace Cottage’s Best Place to Work Award from Vermont Biz. This is the second year in a row that Grace Cottage has achieved this distinction and, once again, the only hospital to win an award, ranked fourth out of 14 award recipients in the medium-size company category.
Community Health Needs Assessment
In order to prioritze resources, hospitals in the U.S. gather information on community health needs every three years. Grace Cottage works in partnership with Brattleboro Memorial and the Brattleboro Retreat to create a report on the health needs of Windham County and we need your help. It will take about 10 minutes to fill out the anonymous survey so that your voice can be heard. (Please complete by May 27, 2024.) Survey results and a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment report will be made available by the end of 2024 on each of the partners’ websites. Thank you for your help! (To see the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, click here, and you’ll get an idea of how comprehensive this survey is!
I hope that you’re enjoying springtime as much as I am! It’s been slow in coming (it always is, here in Vermont, but we finally have daffodils in Townshend!).
Doug DiVello, President & CEO
