(Greenfield) Adair County Health Foundation has received a $50,000 donation from Dr. Don L. King of Vero Beach, Florida.
Dr. King, who passed away in May 2022, gave the gift in honor of the King Family, which also includes his parents, Dr. L. F. King and Mrs. Vineta C. King, and his sister Helen M. (King) Tirsell.
According to Dr. King, his family lived in Greenfield community for many years. Dr. L.F. King had a dentist practice on the square, while Dr. King and his sister Helen graduated from Greenfield High School.
In recent correspondence with the Foundation, Dr. King shared his passion for rural healthcare and the belief that county hospitals are the heart of many small communities like Greenfield. He wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of Adair County residents and believed the health system would impact the greatest number of people. The Foundation carefully considered designating the gift to a project or initiative that would align with Dr. King’s passion, said Gail Steward, Chair of the Foundation.
“We understood Dr. King cared deeply about the community of Greenfield and providing sustainable healthcare into the future. So, supporting development of Adair County Health System (ACHS)’s Master Facility Plan seemed like a perfect fit for the funds,” said Steward.
Catherine Hillestad, Chief Executive Officer of ACHS, agreed. “The generous gift from Dr. King was extremely timely and pivotal in our growth as an organization. Our new Master Facility Plan considers the long-range vision, goals, growth and development of the entire organization’s buildings and infrastructure.”
“We are very grateful to Dr. King for his generous support of ACHS and rural healthcare,” said Hillestad. “His legacy will continue as we implement the Master Facility Plan, our blueprint for the future as we expand and adjust services to serve our community. We are hopeful to begin Phase I of construction this fall.”
To honor the King Family, the Foundation has commissioned engraving of a large, thousand-pound stone, which will be placed in the Memorial Gardens north of the hospital, said Steward.
