By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– The Queen’s Medical Center (QMC) announced at its 2013 Gala, An Everlasting Legacy of Giving, held on Friday, August 23rd, the public launch of its first ever capital campaign to raise money for a planned expansion of QMC’s healthcare services to West O‘ahu.
The James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation formally presented its $1 million gift to QMC Friday night. “The Campbell Family Foundation’s roots are firmly planted in the West O‘ahu and Ewa Plains region, dating back to the legacy of philanthropy that started more than 100 years ago by our great-grandparents, James and Abigail Campbell,” said Wendy Crabb, president of the James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation. “Over the years, the Foundation has continued this proud tradition by committing resources to provide a better quality of life for the people of West O‘ahu. Today, we are especially pleased to present this gift of $1 million to The Queen’s Medical Center – West O‘ahu, and a $200,000 gift from the The James Campbell Company, which will support the opening of a hospital in West O‘ahu, bringing back critical emergency and healthcare services to this fast growing community.”
In addition to this generous gift, Richard Dahl, capital campaign co-chair, announced on behalf of Joanna Sullivan a $1 million gift to QMC Friday night. “Her gift will honor the legacy of her late husband, Maurice J. ‘Sully’ Sullivan, a warm, humble, inspiring leader who cared deeply about our community and saw the potential for growth on the leeward plain. Sully was a driving force in the Sisters of St. Francis’ efforts to deliver hospital and medical care to the community there, and his family is delighted to support Queen’s in its commitment to serve West O‘ahu residents.”
“When Hawaii Medical Center West closed in December 2011, over 2,000 inpatient admissions and 30,000 emergency room visits had to be moved to other area hospitals, creating significant hardships and inconvenience to West O‘ahu residents,” said Art Ushijima, president and CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems and president of The Queen’s Medical Center. “With the opening of The Queen’s Medical Center – West O‘ahu, residents will be served with a brand new hospital: an expanded emergency room, more operating rooms, new imaging facilities and equipment, and a renovated and modernized campus. These new surroundings will complement the exceptional care delivered by our talented physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff,” said Ushijima.
Over 550 business and community leaders were in attendance at this year’s Gala to hear the state’s largest private hospital’s plans to expand much-needed services to the often underserved West O‘ahu community.
“We are pleased to serve as co-chairs of the Queen’s – West O‘ahu capital campaign,” said Bert Kobayashi and Richard Dahl. “The opening of a hospital in the West O‘ahu region will provide much-needed health care services that are essential to the fastest growing community on O‘ahu.”
“We wish to express our appreciation to the Capital Campaign Vice Chair Cabinet for their leadership and support in kicking-off the quiet phase of the capital campaign and, most especially, to those who have generously contributed to support this effort,” said Sharlene Tsuda, vice president of Community Development for The Queen’s Health Systems.