Above, from left, St. Lawrence Health President Donna McGregor, Rochester Regional Health Executive VP and Chief Medical Officer Robert Mayo, MD; and Rochester Regional Health President of Healthcare Operations and COO Jennifer Eslinger recently attended the SLH Foundation Fundraising Campaign Kick-Off Gala.

POTSDAM – The St. Lawrence Health (SLH) Foundation’s Great Care, Right Here Fundraising Campaign Kick-Off Gala raised more than $155,000 to support the priorities of the Campaign.

The Gala was held at The Stables at Windy Point on November 2, 2023, and was the most successful fundraising event in the SLH Foundation’s history; more than doubling the total funds raised at the last event in 2019.

Proceeds from the Gala will support the construction of the St. Lawrence Health Regional Care Pavilion at Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH), Maternal Child Health Services, the establishment of a Family Medicine Rural Residency Program, and scholarships to support employees pursuing further education.”

“We are grateful to our generous donors and sponsors who helped to make the Campaign Kick-Off Gala a great success,” commented SLH Foundation Executive Director April Grant. “With the dedication of Gala Planning Chair Jacquelyn Kuno, and the entire Planning Committee, we surpassed all expectations for this year’s event. Community support is critical to SLH’s ability to advance patient care and expand access to that care in our region.”

Among the 170 individuals who attended the Gala were area residents who volunteered their time and talents as entertainment, or made donations for the live and silent auction, which added to the tremendous success of the evening.

Campaign Importance

As one of the areas to benefit from the campaign, the Regional Care Pavilion will undoubtedly be the most visual. The construction of an expanded Emergency Department, new private patient rooms, and a new main entrance and lobby are changing the footprint of the Hospital’s main campus.

SLH President Donna McGregor praised the entire Canton-Potsdam Hospital team for providing exceptional care to their patients. She pointed to the highly trained clinical staff and how fortunate they are to have directors and supervisors who are compassionate and driven.

CPH Hospitalist Medical Director Imre Rainey-Spence, MD, noted he wants to deliver the best possible care to those who enter the doors at CPH, and so do his colleagues.

“We have incredible representation on our medical staff, many of whom relocated to be part of this institution. Because we chose to come and live in rural America says only one thing, that we want to take care of our neighbors, our friends, the people who become part of our family,” he said.

SLH Emergency Department Service Line Director Justin MacKinnon, MD, pointed out his team has provided amazing care at CPH for many years, and yet the expansion and upgrades to the department are going to allow them to do their jobs even better.

“We are very excited about the new ER expansion, both as a place to work and a place to give care,” he said.

CPH Director of Nursing Obstetrics Services Lisa Enslow, RN, said her department has a highly trained and experienced team of labor and delivery nurses.

“They are very committed to taking the best care of our patients that they can. They also take really good care of each other, and I think that is very hard to find in a lot of areas; I found that to be unique to nursing in the North Country,” she said.

“When considering the talent, commitment, experience, and foresight of our CPH team, it thrills me to think of what we can accomplish in the healthcare field in the years to come,” President McGregor said. “In providing expanded and updated medical services at the Hospital, the care we will be able to offer right here in our corner of the world will mean healthier and hopefully better lives for our patients and members of our community. This project will advance healthcare in St. Lawrence County for years to come.”

The SLH Foundation’s Fundraising Campaign will continue throughout 2024. To learn more about this endeavor and to make a donation please contact Executive Director April Grant at (315) 261-5418, or visit https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/foundation/campaign. Contributions may also be made by mail to: SLH Foundation, 50 Leroy Street, Potsdam, NY 13676.