September 6, 2023
September 6, 2023
Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced today that it has received a $100,000 gift from Greenfield Cooperative Bank to support the expansion and renovation of Cooley Dickinson’s emergency department. The gift is the first of a new $1 million fundraising challenge.
“This incredibly generous gift in support of the Emergency Department is an investment in our shared commitment to a healthy Pioneer Valley,” said Dr. Lynnette Watkins, president and COO of Cooley Dickinson, “We are honored and grateful to Greenfield Cooperative Bank for this gift of support, which will benefit their customers, our patients, and our collective communities by providing access to the region’s top providers and leading health care services in a newly renovated and expanded space.”
The gift from Greenfield Cooperative Bank will support the hospital’s $26 million project, which will add 7,700 square feet, nine new patient rooms, eight behavioral health beds, and a family waiting area. The emergency room will also add a CT scanning machine, for more timely access to diagnostic imaging, and be reconfigured to an oval configuration. To accomplish this goal, the hospital has embarked on an ambitious and comprehensive fundraising campaign, raising nearly $7.2 million to date. The project, which will increase the current space by 40%, broke ground in July and is expected to be completed in 2025.
“Cooley Dickinson is a vital part of the health of our neighbors in the Valley and this donation is a way for us to show our support for the hospital and the people it serves,” said Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, “Many of our staff, family, and friends have needed to receive care at the emergency department. We are grateful for the work that the hospital does, and we are thrilled to help them continue their mission.”
“Greenfield Cooperative Bank is committed to giving back to the community, and we believe that supporting our local hospital is one of the best ways to do that. We are proud to be a part of this community, and we want to do our part to make it a healthier place,” he said.
Cooley Dickinson’s Chief Development Officer, Diane Dukette, said that the generosity of the bank will have an equally transformational impact as the kickoff gift for the $1M Harold Grinspoon Foundation Challenge.
“Through 31, 2024, every new cash donation to our “Transforming Emergency Care” campaign is matched 50% through the generous commitment of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation – up to $1 million. That means we hope to raise up to an additional $2 million,” Dukette said.
Cooley Dickinson is expected to serve 40,000 emergency department patients this year in a 1970s-era building that was designed for 17,000 patients annually. A shortage of space means that some patients are treated in hallways. The department also needs to expand its services to care for an aging population (triple what it was just 10 years ago) and provide additional beds for those experiencing mental health emergencies.
“This campaign is critical to the health of our community. In the newly renovated Emergency Department, patients will see a nurse when they arrive; they will be treated in single patient rooms that allow for privacy; and a central nurses’ station means our clinicians can respond better to patient needs. Overall, this is about making the Emergency Department as efficient and up-to-date as possible to enable our talented providers to take the best possible care of their patients,” Dukette added. “We are truly grateful for Greenfield Cooperative Bank for stepping forward and supporting Cooley Dickinson Hospital so generously.”
About Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Cooley Dickinson Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital that offers community-based programs and services in Northampton, Massachusetts. A member of the Mass General Brigham System, Cooley Dickinson has been advancing the health of people in the Pioneer Valley since 1886. The organization includes community-based primary care and specialty practices in Hampshire and Southern Franklin counties, and a VNA & Hospice program that provides home health and hospice nursing and rehabilitation visits. We are committed to serving our patients and communities with exceptional, compassionate, and personalized care.
