Development Council

What is the MDH Development Council?
Established in 1996, the MDH Development Council is a group of over 100 volunteers who assist MDH through increased health education, involvement, and communication between MDH and the community, which results in greater visibility and increased philanthropic support.

The  Development Council is made up of community and business leaders, employees, medical staff, and the Auxiliary to MDH. It serves as a working link  between the hospital and the community. In addition, the Council provides continued financial support to the hospital so that the high level of patient services our community expects and deserves can be maintained and/or enhanced.

Why a Development Council?
Waldo Horrabin, former Chairman of the MDH Board of Directors, had a vision that the people of West-Central Illinois deserve the finest in healthcare services.  Since its inception in 1958, MDH has strived to fulfill Mr. Horrabin's vision by providing the highest possible quality of services, with a personal approach to caring that enhances the quality of life.

MDH is a not-for-profit organization that has not taxed the community since 1989. It returns any excess revenues back to its capital equipment fund to pay for new, life-saving equipment to meet the healthcare needs of the community. There are no owners or shareholders who profit from operations. MDH serves everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Through the years, almost constant changes have occurred in the delivery of healthcare services as well as in the funding of these services. Some of the changes have included rapid advances in new technology, the creation of needed services, and changing levels of state and federal reimbursement. Therefore, the Development Council was formed to assist MDH in providing strong support so that the tradition of caring can continue.

How Does the Development Council Work?
The MDH Development Council is made up of five main committees: Golden Apple Society, Planned Giving, Business Relations, Annual Support, and Community Outreach.

Co-chaired by Don Dexter and Ron Peterson, each of these committees conducts programs  that communicate, cultivate, solicit, and recognize specific healthcare needs of the community.

Golden Apple Society Committee: Member list
Members  of  the Golden Apple Society Committee work to plan, propose, initiate, recruit, and support membership and activities. Golden Apple Society members are individuals who pledge $10,000 and above to MDH.

Planned Gifts Committee: Member list
The Planned Giving Committee, consisting of attorneys, bankers, accountants, etc., conducts educational programs and provides opportunities to increase the number of people who are aware of the benefits of making a planned gift to MDH through a will, trust, life insurance policy, etc.

Business Relations Committee: Member list
Made up of business leaders, the Business Relations Committee assists in the development of the relationship between the hospital and area businesses. They conduct programs designed to provide communication and service to businesses in our community.

• Business Wellness Programs - A series of informational programs provided to the businesses about MDH services and health education topics
• CEO Roundtables - A presentation and open discussion with the area business leaders and government officials about "What's Happening at MDH" by the President/CEO of the hospital
• Business Honor Roll - Businesses who provide financial support to MDH on an annual basis

Annual Support Committee
Annual Support Committee members work to increase the number of annual gifts to MDH and is made up of several subcommittees including the following:

• Century Club
• MDH PROS (Professionals Reach Out in Service) - Employee Giving Club: Member list
• Memorial/Honorary Gift Program
• In Tribute & In Memory
• Year-End Appeal
• Golf Tournament: Member list
• Festival of Trees: Member list
• Tevar Walk/Run Roll

Community Outreach Committee: Member list
The  Community Outreach Committee is unique because it does not do any fundraising; their gift is "friend-raising." As ambassadors to MDH, they serve as a resource for publicizing MDH health education/safety programs and assisting the MDH Outreach Services department in providing health education programs to the community. Some examples are Hand-Washing Programs, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids Day Camp, and Straight Talk.