THE FUTURE of REHAB THERAPY Healing
Close to Home
September 1, 2025
DEAR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,
At Memorial Community Hospital & Foundation, we are proud to serve as a trusted source of compassionate, expert care for our community and the surrounding areas—bringing quality healthcare close to home. Today, we are thrilled to share an exciting new chapter in our mission to care for you and your loved ones: the creation of a brand-new, state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center.
This project will significantly expand our physical, occupational, and speech therapy services, allowing us to meet growing needs with greater comfort, efficiency, and excellence. It is a bold step forward —and one that will benefit generations to come.
We are pleased to share that Memorial Community Hospital is financially strong and well-managed, thanks to the dedication of our team and the trust of our community. While we are positioned to move this project forward with confidence, we believe a community investment in the new Rehabilitation Therapy Center reflects something far greater than dollars alone—it’s a collective affirmation of the hospital’s impact, and a shared commitment to its future.
When our community comes together to support a project like this, it sends a powerful message: that we believe in accessible, high-quality care, and in the importance of sustaining this vital resource at the heart of our region.
Your support is deeply valued—it shows that MCH is more than a hospital serving the community; it is a hospital proudly supported by the community.
With gratitude and commitment,
Manny Banner President & CEO Memorial Community Hospital Foundation Director Memorial Community Hospital Foundation
Honorary Committee
Terry and Kim Dutton
Matt and Christie Gutzman
Dan and Mary Beth Hunt
Mark and Betty Rhoades
Neil and Lynn Smith
Steering Committee
Tawnya Roberts - Chair
Cindy Chatt
Denise Dein
Angie Hodson
Dave Ladwig
Ryan McCabe
Jan Quist
A VITAL NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY
For generations, Memorial Community Hospital (MCH) in Blair, Nebraska, has been a cornerstone of healthcare in our region, providing essential services to individuals and families. One of the fastest-growing and most vital areas of care at MCH is rehabilitation therapy, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
With demand rising year after year—including an 11% increase just last year— our current facilities can no longer keep pace with patient needs or the standards of modern care.
To address this, we are launching an ambitious plan to relocate and remodel our rehab therapy center, creating a state-of-the-art space within our existing hospital footprint.
The new facility will give our community access to exceptional, modern services close to home, eliminating the need to travel long distances to Omaha. Featuring an aqua therapy pool and expanded treatment spaces, the redesigned center will mark a major step forward for healthcare in Blair and the surrounding region.
THE GROWING NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE
REHAB THERAPY
SERVICES
Rehabilitation therapy services at Memorial Community Hospital are experiencing unprecedented demand, driven by factors such as an aging population, growing awareness of the benefits of therapy, and a stronger emphasis on non-invasive treatment options.
TREATMENT VOLUME GROWTH 2016-2024
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However, the limitations of our current facility are becoming increasingly apparent:
• Limited Space for Growth: Our therapy center no longer has the capacity to serve the growing number of patients who need physical, occupational, and speech therapy. This results in longer wait times and limited scheduling options.
• Outdated Resources: Many modern therapy techniques require specialized equipment that our current space cannot accommodate. This restricts the scope of care we are able to provide close to home.
• Barriers to Access: Patients with mobility challenges or specific rehabilitation needs often struggle to receive the full spectrum of care in our current setting.
OUR VISION: A MODERN, PATIENT-CENTERED REHABILITATION THERAPY CENTER
Memorial Community Hospital is committed to meeting the needs of our community by creating a modern Rehabilitation Therapy Center – one that prioritizes exceptional patient outcomes, a welcoming patient experience, and the ability to both attract new patients and retain top-tier healthcare professionals.
Key features of the remodeled facility include:
• Aqua Therapy Pool: The largest in the area, this advanced pool will support water-based rehabilitation programs, offering tremendous benefits for patients with mobility challenges, chronic pain, or post-surgical recovery needs.
• State-of-the-Art Equipment: Cutting-edge tools and technology will expand treatment options and elevate care across all therapy disciplines, ensuring that patients receive the very best rehabilitation services close to home.
• Expanded Treatment Areas: Purpose-designed spaces, increased by more than 1,500 square feet, will accommodate modern therapy equipment while providing a more comfortable, welcoming environment for both patients and staff.
• Integrated Therapy Services: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy will be seamlessly connected in the new space, creating a truly collaborative and comprehensive approach to patient care.
This project is not just about creating space; it is about building healthier lives and a stronger community.
"I see every day how transformative rehabilitation can be in a patient’s recovery [...] With advanced equipment and thoughtfully designed treatment areas, we will be better equipped to help our patients regain strength, independence, and quality of life.”
– Ryan McCabe, Physical Therapist, Therapy Department Manager
IMPACT: HEALTHIER LIVES, STRONGER COMMUNITY
The remodeled Rehab Therapy Center will profoundly strengthen healthcare in Washington County and the surrounding region, creating benefits that will endure for generations:
• Improved Patient Outcomes: Access to advanced therapies, such as aqua therapy, will support quicker recovery and better long-term results.
• Enhanced Patient Experience: Purpose-built treatment areas will provide a more comfortable, welcoming, and efficient healing environment.
• Expanded Access to Care: Broader therapy services will attract new patients, reinforcing MCH’s leadership in regional rehabilitation care.
• Provider Recruitment and Retention: A modern facility will help attract and retain top healthcare professionals, ensuring consistent excellence in care delivery.
• Strengthening Speech Therapy: Expanded space and resources will allow our speech therapy program to grow, meeting increasing community needs with comprehensive, quality care.
THE
COST
OF CARE: WHY WE NEED YOUR
HELP
The cost of relocating and equipping the new rehab therapy center is $3.7 million, including:
Construction
Equipment
Consultant Fees
Administrative
Contingency
$2,589,800
$549,500
$206,900
$78,200
$275,600
• Facility Remodel: Expanding and updating hospital space to meet growing patient needs.
• Aqua Therapy Pool: Installing a state-of-theart pool for water-based rehabilitation.
• Advanced Equipment: Providing cutting-edge tools and technology for a range of therapy programs.
Why Gifts Matter:
By supporting the new Rehabilitation Therapy Center, you are investing directly in the health and well-being of your friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Every gift brings us closer to a future where exceptional, life-changing care is available right here at home. Your generosity will:
• Provide patients with access to life-changing care close to home.
• Reduce the financial and emotional strain of traveling for treatment.
• Strengthen MCH’s ability to serve as a trusted healthcare provider for generations to come.
In gratitude, naming opportunities will be available to allow donors to leave a lasting legacy of care and compassion in our community.
HOW TO HELP BUILD A HEALTHIER TOMORROW
Cash
Donating by check, online, or by bank transfer may be the quickest and most convenient way to give.
Stocks
Transferring stock offers the opportunity to save on capital gains and income taxes and allows you to deduct the value of the stock at current market rates regardless of your original purchase price.
Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA/RMD
Those over 70.5 years of age can make charitable donations paid directly to Memorial Community Hospital Foundation from their IRA account and avoid personal income tax liabilities. Individuals 73 years of age and older may consider making their required minimum distribution (RMD) payable to Memorial Community Hospital Foundation.
Donor Advised Fund
Charitable contributions to your donor-advised fund can easily be transferred by submitting Memorial Community Hospital Foundation information to your fund representative.
Pledges
Making a three to five-year pledge to Memorial Community Hospital Foundation can spread your gifts over time.
Real Estate
Gifting real estate to Memorial Community Hospital Foundation can be accomplished by working with staff and advisors prior to making a transfer. Gifting real estate offers tax advantages, avoids capital gains, and allows you to claim the current fair market appraised value of your property as a tax deduction.
Matching Gifts
Consider asking your employer if they offer matching gifts.
Remember a Loved One
Please talk with a staff member to recognize a loved one in perpetuity at Memorial Community Hospital Foundation.
Estate Gifts
Name Memorial Community Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary in your will by listing a specific gift, property, or specific amount of money or stock. Name Memorial Community Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary in your insurance policies, IRAs, and other investments.
Consider transferring paid-up insurance policies into the Memorial Community Hospital Foundation name.
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES*
Center for Rehabilitation & Healing • $2,000,000
Inspire Healing at the Heart of Recovery. Support the centerpiece of patient rehabilitation—a welcoming, state-of-the-art space for rebuilding lives through expert therapy and compassionate care.
Aquatic Therapy Center • $500,000
Where Movement Begins Again. Make waves in patient recovery by naming the aquatic therapy space that offers safe, supportive rehabilitation through water-based treatments.
Mobility & Strength Studio • $250,000
Empowering Every Step Forward. Fund the vital area where strength, mobility, and independence are regained using advanced equipment and an indoor walking track designed for all levels of ability.
Life Skills Kitchen • $100,000
Restoring Confidence One Meal at a Time. Support the unique kitchen where patients relearn essential daily living skills—like cooking and meal preparation—on the road to independence.
Advanced Wound Care Suite • $100,000
A Space for Specialized Healing. Help provide expert care for patients recovering from wounds and complex conditions in a private, dedicated environment designed for comfort and precision.
* In some cases, naming opportunities may be fulfilled through combined gifts from multiple donors, with approval from the MCH Board of Directors. This allows families, groups, or organizations to jointly support a space or program in a meaningful way.
Private Therapy Suite • $75,000 each (4 available)
Where Personalized Healing Begins. Give the gift of focused, one-on-one care in a calming, private space where patients work closely with their therapists toward recovery. These suites are designed to support a full range of therapies in an environment that fosters dignity, comfort, and individualized attention.
Therapist Collaboration Hub • $50,000
Where Progress Takes Shape. Be a part of the behind-the-scenes hub where therapists collaborate, plan, and innovate personalized care strategies that make recovery possible.
Wall of Gratitude • $1,000 and more
A Permanent Tribute to Generosity. Be recognized for your generous support of the Therapy Department. All gifts of $1,000 or more will be honored on a prominently displayed, permanent donor wall. Placement and name size will reflect giving levels, offering a lasting expression of gratitude to those who help transform patient care.
For more information or questions, please contact:
Coartney DiGiorgio Foundation Director
Memorial Community Hospital Foundation 402-426-1464 • cdigiorgio@mchhs.org
JOIN US IN BUILDING A HEALTHIER FUTURE
At Memorial Community Hospital, we believe highquality healthcare should never depend on where you live. With your support, we can create a modern rehabilitation therapy center that meets today’s needs and prepares for the future’s healthcare challenges. This is more than just a building project — it is an investment in the health, resilience, and future of every family in the surrounding area.
We invite you to join us in making this vision a reality. Together, we can build a facility that reflects the strength, compassion, and generosity of our community, ensuring that patients have access to the care they need, when they need it, right here at home. Thank you for helping us create a healthier, stronger future for our community!