Cuba Memorial kicks off capital campaign

By Kip Doyle

Cuba Memorial Hospital and members of the local community are continuing the mission to bring a high-quality retirement campus to the Southern Tier.

Last Tuesday, Cuba Memorial CEO Andrew Boser announced the Continuing the Mission Capital Campaign, a region-wide initiative reaching out to residents, companies, associations and government organizations to pledge their financial support for the retirement community.

The announcement was made at Moonwinks Restaurant.

With the new campaign comes a capital campaign committee, made up of local people who believe in a "stronger, more vibrant community," Boser said.

The campaign committee's goal of contributing $2.5 million to the initiative is well in reach, Maureen Negron, development director at Cuba Memorial Hospital, said. Since October, campaign contributions have helped raise over $1.2 million towards the cost of the enriched living facility on the retirement campus.

Among the campaign contribution options announced Tuesday are "named gift opportunities," where donors can designate the name for certain areas of the retirement community. These might include a family reception area, a patio, a treatment room, or other area, Negron said.

When completed, the capital project will cost nearly $25 million. The retirement campus will be built adjacent to the hospital on 196 acres, with a view of Cuba's scenic hills, Michele VanZwanenberg-Conklin, patient advocate at Cuba Memorial, said.

"Residents will enjoy the rural setting they have come to love, while remaining independent and safe," Conklin said.

With 24-hour access to treatment at the hospital, a meal plan, activities, and comfortable living units, the retirement campus will meet the needs of the active and independent senior, along with those who need ongoing care, she said.

The members of the campaign committee were announced during the meeting, with Nico and Joanne VanZwanenberg and Conklin chairing the campaign. VanZwanenberg is the former partner/owner and CEO of Empire Cheese and currently a member of the Cuba Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. VanZwanenberg is active in many civic organizations and is a past board member of the Cuba Library and Zonta Club.

Other campaign committee members include Donna Adams, Chris Berardi, William Burdsall, Randy Butts, Marlene Doyle, William Fox, Lee James, Ray Jordan, Libby and Brian Louks, Sandy Mountain, Janice Rinker and Jean Switalski.

VanZwanenberg pointed to the generosity of the community as the reason for Cuba Memorial Hospital overcoming financial difficulties in recent years. Now, the hospital is set to flourish into a place where seniors can live out their golden years in a happy, familiar setting.

"Coming home to one's roots is a beautiful way to face the future," VanZwanenberg said.

Those interested in making a donation or designating a naming opportunity can contact Negron at the hospital. For more information about the capital campaign and retirement community, contact Negron at (585) 968-3877 Ext. 277.