WINFIELD – There were plenty of smiles to go around Wednesday evening as William Newton Hospital broke ground on expansion of its surgical department.
Roughly two-hundred people – including hospital staff and donors – gathered on Park Street on the east side of the hospital for the event. Winfield native, and well-known KAKE newsman, Larry Hatteberg was host for the evening.
Expanding the surgical department is phase 1 in a 10-year, multi-million-dollar facility improvement plan at the hospital. Construction of phase 1 is expected to take up to 18 months.
Conco Construction is the general contractor.
Improvements will be funded by a mix of financing and donor gifts. About $2.5 million has been raised thus far.
“We have been so blessed by everyone’s time, talents, pocketbooks making this all possible,” William Newton hospital CEO Ben Quinton said in remarks to the gathered crowd. “I just want to say, sincerely, thank you, you guys are amazing.”
Winfield Mayor Greg Thompson also spoke and credited hospital administrators, past and present, with having the foresight to carefully manage hospital funds and thrive without funding from the city.
“We give no tax support to this hospital,” he said. “That’s a large factor in here to talk about when we’re talking about (this expansion project.)”
During the event, announcements were made about two, donor-matching opportunities. Winfield Economic Development, Inc. will provide $500,000 in matching funds for corporate donors and an anonymous donor has worked with William Newton Healthcare Foundation to create a $1 million challenge match for estate gifts.
For more information on The Second Century Fundraising Campaign, visit wnhfoundation.org/2ndcentury.
William Newton Hospital is located at 1300 E. Fifth Ave. in Winfield.
