MUSCATINE, Iowa–The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine’s project to construct a new physicians clinic at UnityPoint Health–Trinity Muscatine Hospital received a shot in the arm Sept. 23 when the HNI Charitable Foundation made a $1 million donation to the cause.
For more than 35 years, the HNI Charitable Foundation has supported projects that offer quality of life improvements. Supporting the new physicians clinics provided a natural fit for the foundation. “Health has been identified as a priority of the HNI Charitable Foundation, and improving access to healthcare has been recognized as both a need and a priority of our community and county as a whole,” said Lindsey McCullough, Senior MCR and Foundation Specialist for HNI.
Jamie Leza, vice president of operations for the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, greeted the donation with joy, as it puts the project significantly closer to having the $14 million it will need. “We are grateful for the direct difference that the HNI Charitable Foundation is making in our community’s health with this incredible gift,” she said. “We are inspired by the generous support from local businesses and individuals even before our official campaign was launched.”
Since the spring, both corporate and private donations the the physicians clinic project have come in steadily, with both the Carver Charitable Trust and KENT Corporation offering matching grants to speed fundraising efforts along. As work to bring this project to fruition continues, Leza welcomes donations of any size. Individuals or businesses wanting to support the construction of the new physicians clinic on Mulberry may donate online by visiting the Community Foundation’s website. With support remaining strong, Leza hopes to complete all fundraising efforts for this project by the end of November of this year. Though weather or supply chain issues could interfere, the Community Foundation would like to see the new clinic built by fall of 2023.
An ambitious project, the new, three story physicians clinic will go up next to the existing one, providing more space and updated facilities for local healthcare providers to use. The Community Foundation believes these upgrades will both attract more physicians to the area and also help health care providers offer higher quality patient care experiences to people seeking a variety of kinds of care. Its thoughtful construction next to the existing clinic will allow healthcare providers currently practicing at that location to keep seeing patients without interruption and to transition to the new space smoothly. “The new health clinic facility will expand and improve patient equity and care, resulting in multi-generational, social, and economic success for families of Muscatine County,” stated Leza.
As for McCullough, she felt proud that the HNI Charitable Foundation could lend meaningful support to a project that will have a positive impact on workers at HNI as well as their families for many years into the future. “We are excited to announce our commitment to join fellow businesses and individuals in this collaborative community health solution that will support our members, retirees, and community,” she said.
