The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation hosted a reception Thursday to recognize past donors and announce the foundation’s 2024-2025 fundraising campaign, “Your Family’s Health is Our Mission.” The event took place in Salvati Hall at St. Joseph’s Hospital, with remarks from hospital leadership and foundation representatives.
The reception and presentation highlighted the hospital’s history, mission and future goals. Skip Gjolberg, president and CEO of WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, shared the rich history of the hospital and the significance of its mission.
“St. Joseph’s started with the Pallottine Sisters, an order established by Father Vincent Pallotti in Rome in 1838,” Gjolberg said. “They arrived in the U.S. in the early 1900s to help communities like ours, and their legacy of service lives on. We continue their mission today — to provide quality healthcare to our community with dignity and respect.”
Gjolberg also emphasized the foundation’s impact, particularly in a rural setting like Upshur County.
“When we converted to critical access in 2014, St. Joseph’s was struggling financially. Now, thanks to the community’s support and our partnership with WVU Medicine, we’re thriving,” Gjolberg said. “We’ve expanded services, added trauma care and are working to grow our cardiology and detox programs.”
Don Nestor, president of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, spoke about the importance of community involvement in the hospital’s success.
“The foundation’s goal is to develop relationships and raise funds to support healthcare needs,” Nestor said. “Our board is made up of people from all walks of life in the community, and we work together to identify the most pressing needs.”
Nestor highlighted several key projects made possible through donations, including upgraded security systems and new recliners for chemotherapy patients. He also noted the hospital’s many community partnerships, such as the blood screenings held in cooperation with the Buckhannon-Upshur Rotary Club.
“Every contribution helps us provide the best care possible,” Nestor said. “We’ve been able to bring in equipment we wouldn’t have been able to buy otherwise, like defibrillators and stress test machines.”
The foundation’s 2024-2025 campaign, “Your Family’s Health is Our Mission,” aims to continue supporting vital hospital services while expanding access to care for local families.
Interested in supporting this year’s campaign? You can learn more and make a donation online on the Foundation’s webpage. You can also donate in other ways — gift annuities, charitable trusts, retirement distributions and more. Call 304-473-6819 for more information.
