U.S. Bank Pledges $20,000 To St. Charles Capital Campaign
Oct 21,2006 00:00 by Bend Weekly News Sources
Gift brings foundation closer to earning $600,000 Kresge Community Challenge grant

The St. Charles Foundation announced Friday that U.S. Bank, through the U.S. Bancorp Foundation, recently pledged $20,000 to the St. Charles Foundation's Expanding the Vision capital campaign, bringing the total raised to date to $8.8 million.

"People live and work in Central Oregon because of its natural scenic beauty but also because of its quality of life,” said Ryan Killgore, U.S. Bank Region President, Central and Eastern Oregon “The medical resources available to the community are critical to its livability, which is why we firmly believe in supporting the great work of the St. Charles Foundation and the St. Charles Medical Centers."

“This generous gift from U.S. Bank brings us even closer to reaching our campaign goal of $10 million, which will earn us a $600,000 Kresge Foundation community challenge grant,” said Jim Diegel, President/CEO of Cascade Healthcare Community. “We asked our community to step up to the plate and help us build for a healthy Central Oregon, and U.S. Bank rose to the challenge. We very much appreciate their ongoing support and dedication to the well-being of our entire region.”

U.S. Bank is a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB). The U.S. Bancorp Foundation contributes to the strength and vitality of local communities through partnerships that improve the educational and economic opportunities of low- and moderate-income individuals and families and enhance the cultural and artistic life of the communities in which U.S. Bancorp operates. With $217 billion in assets, U.S. Bancorp is the 6th largest financial holding company in the United States. The company operates 2,462 banking offices and 4,943 ATMs in 24 states, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp is home of the Five Star Service Guarantee in which the company pays customers if certain key banking benefits and services are not met.

The “Expanding the Vision” capital campaign for Cascade Healthcare Community -- led by community volunteers Jerry and Jinny Andres, Honorary Chairs; and Doug and Amy Downer, General Chairs -- is helping to support a record $128 million  investment in facilities, technology and equipment at St. Charles Medical Centers in Bend and Redmond to help keep pace with exploding growth in the region. In Redmond, projects include a three-story expansion that will include private patient rooms, enhanced surgical facilities, expanded public areas and room for future expansion to meet the needs of continued growth. Projects in Bend include an expanded emergency department, a new medical diagnostics unit, additional inpatient beds, a new power and utilities plant, a new helicopter for Air Life of Oregon and an expanded Family Birthing Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The investment is also paying for the electronic medical records system in Bend and Redmond, helping to reduce the risk of medical errors, improve patient care and increase efficiency.