Bon Secours Health System is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization whose mission is service to others. One of the ways in which we serve is through the Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation. The Foundation responds to critical needs within our own facilities and across Richmond and its surrounding communities by contributing to our System's community health outreach.

Many local families in need receive crisis assistance for emergency payments: rent or mortgage, utility and phone bills, medications, infusions, food, and repairs. The Foundation also provides funds to build, equip and upgrade family and patient areas at our local System's four area hospitals, such as the purchase of computers for the John Beverly Rankin Playroom in the Pediatric Unit, or specialized infant and preemie equipment, furnishings, and instruments in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Larger projects such as the capital campaign for St. Francis Medical Center, attracted many donors through their interest in the innovative women's and children's spaces and services in our newest hospital.

Through the Foundation, Bon Secours supports a range of projects, including:

• Care-A-Van, which provides free shots, school physicals, and vital screenings for young uninsured or under-insured children.
• Controlling Asthma in the Richmond Metropolitan Area (CARMA), which helps children and their families develop lifesaving skills and strategies for asthma self-management.
• Safe Kids, which provides children with much-needed car, bike and pedestrian safety training.
• Forensic Nursing Program, which involves specialized, medical-legal examinations of suspected offenders and victims of violent crime, including sexual assault and child abuse.

We can't do it without you and your support. You can give to the Foundation by following the link below. But you can also get involved in other ways. When Erin Rogers, then a 16 year-old, was at St. Mary's Hospital for back surgery, she found limited recreational facilities for teens. After she went home, she raised money from community leaders through a mail and interview campaign as a component of a school leadership course. That funding provided TVs, VCRs, DVD players, and videos for every pediatric room. She even had enough money left over to provide additional funding for the pediatric library.

With the addition of St. Francis Medical Center south of the James River in 2005, the work of the Foundation has become even wider in scope. As we seek support in our community for all four Bon Secours hospitals, we count on the continuing goodwill of our patrons and are grateful for their endorsement and support. Together, we are building a community of caring that brings the mission of Bon Secours to life every day.

If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation, please call (804) 287-7770.

For more information about the Foundation, click here.