Bruce and Sue Kerfoot, owners of Gunflint Lodge, were once again gracious hosts of the North Shore Health Care Foundation’s annual BBQ dinner. Sixty-eight people attended this fundraiser and were treated to a sumptuous buffet prepared by the lodge’s very hard-working, very eager and very pleasant staff.
Two weeks ago Karl Hansen worried whether there were going to be more than a handful of people at the North Shore Health Care Foundation’s (NSHCF) annual BBQ dinner held at Gunflint Lodge on Sunday, June 27.
“Registration was slow, very slow,” said Hansen, who is director of the board.
“But,” he smiled broadly and threw his arms out wide, “look at this turnout.”
Great food, great atmosphere, great weather and a room full of happy, generous donors made for a successful event.
All of the proceeds, said Hansen, “Go to our endowment fund. Our goal in 1995 was to raise two million dollars. It seemed unrealistic, but we’re a quarter of the way there.”
The Minnesota Community Foundation holds the $383,600 balance in the North Shore Health Care Foundation permanent endowment fund.
“The total assets of the NSHCF are $538,500, which includes some ‘endowment money’ that we have been reluctant to move from bank accounts to invested accounts recently due to the erratic stock market,” Hansen said.
For the past three years the NSHCF has worked with a variety of local health care providers to set up a program that will enhance end-of-life care.
“At first we wanted to start a hospice care program,” Hansen said. “But the challenges of funding and setting up hospice care in a small community have proven to be difficult. We haven’t given up on the idea. But with the help of volunteers trained by St. Mary’s Hospice & Palliative Care in Duluth some assistance has been available. Our goal, our mission is to enhance end-of-life care. We can do that through palliative care and expand services to the frail and elderly in Cook County from a community based approach.”
And what is palliative care? “It is a service that helps set up the best quality of life for patients and families,” said Hansen. “It extends the principles of hospice care to a broader population of patients who could benefit from receiving this type of assistance earlier in their illness,” he added.
Thisyear the NSHCF received $20,032 from its endowment fund. Most of that money will be awarded in grants to local health care providers. “But, said Hansen, “Part of those proceeds will be used to help fund a case manager who will work about five hours per week at the cook county north shore hospital.
“The person has already been hired but we can’t release the name yet. It will be great to get this program moving forward,” Hansen said.
The NSHCF has been in existence since 1993. It is an independent nonprofit organization that is set up to benefit the health care of visitors and residents of Cook County. Grants are awarded to local health care providers on a quarterly basis. To learn more about the NSHCF go to its website: www.northshorehealthcarefoundation. org.
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