Foundation FOCUS
Su m m er | 2019
Don or Spot ligh t
Anderson Family Foundation Completes $500,000 Matching Gift
We're grateful for everyone who made our annual Golf Tournament the most successful yet! Thank you for your ongoing support of MIHS!
A $500,000 matching gift to Maricopa Health Foundation was recently completed by local philanthropists, Joe Anderson and his wife Mary Dewane. The couple made their gift at CopaBall 2013 in honor of Betsey Bayless, former President and CEO of MIHS, now MIHS President Emeritus and a member of the Maricopa Health Foundation Board of Directors. The first $250,000 of the gift supports screening and critical patient needs in the MIHS Breast Clinic, with another $200,000 going toward completion of a new Family Learning Center (FLC) in the health system?s new West Valley Primary and Specialty Care Clinic, scheduled to open in July 2020. The remaining $50,000 will be directed to an area of need as MIHS continues its transition to Valleywise Health this year. Anderson and Dewane, owners of Benovia Winery, were moved to 'step in and help out' with the MIHS Breast Clinic when they learned about cuts in screening and breast cancer funding in the Valley. Passionate about literacy programs for the underserved, the couple chose to support the fifth MIHS Family Learning Center. Family Learning Centers are libraries for patients, their families and the community that provide health information, community referrals, classes, literacy activities and program enrollment assistance. A Brophy Prep and ASU graduate, Anderson worked in Arizona state government for 17 years. While working in Arizona?s Department of Administration, he was tapped to address the state?s failing Medicaid system. Along with Dr. Donald F. Schaller, Anderson rebuilt Arizona?s health plan for the poor and created a new model of managed health care that cut costs while providing high quality care. The AHCCCS program became a model for other states.
Special thanks to MIHS RN, Derek Boehm, for sharing his inspiring story at our 2019 Legacy Circle Night of Heroes. Pictured: MHF CEO Nate Lowrie, Derek Boehm, RN, MIHS District Chairman Mark Dewane and MHF Vice Chair Kevin Neal.
In 1986, Dr. Schaller and Joe Anderson left AHCCCS and founded their own managed care company, Schaller Anderson, Inc., which was purchased by Aetna in 2007. Dewane championed the effort to provide assistance to children, low income families and people with disabilities in Orange County, when she became the founding CEO of CalOptima, a $1.5 billion/year health plan and one of the largest Medicaid managed care organizations in the country. A tribute to her work in Orange County, CalOptima now gives an award annually named in Mary's honor. As an Arizona native, Anderson understands the critical role MIHS plays in the Valley. "We invest in organizations that make a difference and that we know are well run. MIHS can fit anyone's philanthropic plan. Their programs, ranging from burn to cancer, serve the populations who need it most and fill the gaps others don't," he said. "We hope to encourage others to do the same." To learn about opportuities to support MIHS, visit M ar icopaHealt h Fou n dat ion .or g.
Arizona Women's Board members present MHF Development Director Kate Fassett with $50,000 for the Food Pharmacy Project at MIHS.
For more on Benovia Winery, go to Ben oviaWin er y.com
Ar izon a Wom en?s Boar d Fu n din g M IHS Food Ph ar m acy Pr oject Fu n ded by a $50,000 gr an t f r om t h e Ar izon a Wom en's Boar d, the Food Pharmacy program will be located on-site at the MIHS South Central Family Health Center and serve a pilot group of patients over six months. In partnership with St. Mary's Food Bank and the MIHS Diabetes Clinic, this innovative program aims to improve diabetes outcomes and prevent kidney disease through availability of healthy food choices including lean proteins, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Dietary intake, hemoglobin A1C levels (blood sugar control over a three-month period) and quality of life will be monitored during participation in the program. Food insecurity is a public health problem with many families making the choice between food, medicine or health care. The Arizona Women's Board is committed to the prevention of kidney disease through awareness, education, and research and to improve the quality of life of Arizonans with kidney disease. Past AWB grants to MIHS funded nutritional supplements and transportation for dialysis patients. " Diabet es is t h e n u m ber on e r eason f or k idn ey disease, an d m edicat ion is n ot en ou gh ," said Dr. Tina Younger of the MIHS Diabetes Clinic. " Food im pact s diabet es an d diabet es leads t o k idn ey disease." "We're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help launch this important pilot program with support from the AWB," said Foundation CEO Nate Lowrie. "Any time we can empower a person through preventative health measures, we've made an important impact on our community." The grant was funded by proceeds from the 39th Annual AWB Author 's Luncheon. The 40th Annual Friends of Erma Bombeck Author 's Luncheon will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2019. To lear n m or e, go t o Au t h or sLu n ch eon AZ.or g