wellington | health
“Few things matter more than the health of our loved ones and friends, along with the well-being of the community where we live. That’s what prompted us to step forward and fully support Bethesda Hospital West.” — Marie Bedner
Philanthropy has always played an essential role at Bethesda Hospital. Donors have supported the development of new facilities, state-of-the-art equipment for minimally invasive cardiac procedures, COVID-19 emergency response needs, education programs at the Bethesda College of Health Sciences and much more. “Philanthropic support is absolutely vital for us,” said Barbara James, vice president of development and development support at the Baptist Health Foundation. “As more people move to the county, there is a growing need for premium healthcare. Fortunately, we’ve been able to expand our donor base over the past several years, for which we are very grateful.” This dedicated community of donors includes Marie and Steve Bedner of Wellington, who are among South Florida’s leading vegetable growers. They are owners of an 80-acre farm that produces about 50 different types of vegetables, as well as three Palm Beach County farmer’s markets. 28
july 2022 | wellington the magazine
The couple, who have been supporting Bethesda Hospital West since 2011, were part of the hospital’s initial building campaign. Marie is a former foundation board member and a current hospital trustee who is an enthusiastic advocate for her community. “Few things matter more than the health of our loved ones and friends, along with the well-being of the community where we live,” she said.“That’s what prompted us to step forward and fully support Bethesda Hospital West. We need to keep nurturing this first-rate facility and continue to support its mission.” As any business owner knows, a company’s success is largely based on the dedication of its employees. Marie has been impressed with how Bethesda Hospital West has been able to recruit and retain its exceptional staff. “In my first year as a trustee, I was asked to give out the five-year pins at the employee appreciation party,” she recalled.“They didn’t warn me ahead of
time not to wear heels — I stood there for so long! There were so many team members who had been there five years and longer. It says a lot about an organization that people want to stay, and that they’re well taken care of.” The Bedners are also helping support the hospital’s caregivers with vegetable giveaway days, which began during the early days of the pandemic and are still greatly appreciated. Marie believes that the involvement of donors like herself and Steve is having a positive impact on philanthropic support for Bethesda Hospital West, which will continue to build in the future.“It puts a face on the hospital, and people in the community respect that,” she said. “Therefore, they’re happy to lend their support — and that makes a big difference.” For more information about the Baptist Health Foundation and supporting Bethesda Hospital West, visit www.baptisthealth.net/giving, e-mail giving@baptisthealth.net or call (561) 737-7733, ext. 84445.