St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation Celebrates
2009 Legacy Society Members
Over the past 20 years, gifts to the Foundation from individuals, organizations and businesses have generated more than $6 million dollars. The compassion that these donors exhibit by giving their time and their money to the Foundation makes the Magic Valley a healthier place to live.
The Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization, and a registered corporation with the State of Idaho. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who focus on the Foundation's vision of enhancing the community's health care through philanthropy.
For more information concerning the Foundation or the Legacy Society, please contact Larry W. Baxter, CFRE, Foundation Executive Director, at 737-2480.
Recognition Awards
Outstanding Hospital Volunteer of the Year
 |
Rex LaGrone |
Rex LaGrone is a familiar face in the halls of St. Luke's Magic Valley; he's been employed with the hospital for over two and a half decades. As the Information Technology Engineer for the site, Rex and his team are responsible for fielding St. Luke's employees' questions about computers, printers, cell phones and software.
Rex and his wife Kathy live in Filer, and while they love small town life, they also enjoy traveling internationally. They're looking forward to a trip to France this July to visit a foreign exchange student who stayed with them in 2007. Both Rex and Kathy share a passion for piloting small planes, and for spoiling nephews and nieces during birthday celebrations and holidays.
Rex began donating his Paid Time Off hours to the Foundation twenty years ago; he's also been instrumental in securing technological donations from a variety of vendors. Rex is the reason why the Foundation always offers St. Luke's employees such great prizes (like Netbooks) during the Annual Hospital Campaign. The St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation has been a lucky beneficiary of Rex's kindness over the years, and while Rex prefers to give anonymously, he deserves a quiet "thank you" for his largesse.
Outstanding Event Volunteer of the Year
 |
Marni Porath |
Marni Porath is a Twin Falls native, and a University of Idaho graduate. She worked as an Extension Educator for Oregon State University for eight years. After starting a family in 2005 with her husband, Cody Porath, she became a stay-at-home mom, devoting all of her time and energy to her family.
Marni started volunteering for the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation in 2008. Though not comfortable with public speaking, Marni agreed to talk about her family's experience at the St. Luke's Boise neonatal intensive care unit with Gala Celebration guests during the Festival of Trees. The Porath's twins, Hallie and Connor, were born 14 weeks early and the family spent 5 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), until their family was ready to come home. Marni's volunteer work came from a desire to give back and to "offer something to families during times when things aren't looking bright. It can be very lonely to have a sick child."
When Dr. Jane Scott, a St. Luke's Magic Valley neonatologist approached Marni about joining the "A Child's Whisper" committee, Marni welcomed the opportunity to "help ease the burden on families with sick children." "A Child's Whisper" is a group of southern Idaho moms who want to improve the experience of families whose children are patients of the neonatal intensive care unit. Currently, they are working on raising money to fund a "Room-Inn" room in the new St. Luke's Magic Valley hospital. The "Room-Inn" rooms will offer families the opportunity to stay with their child; the rooms serve as training grounds where families learn to take care of their child's medical needs by themselves. "A Child's Whisper" in cooperation with the Foundation, puts on the A Kid Again fundraiser in the spring. Marni was instrumental in the success of A Kid Again.
The Porath twins are both in relatively good health. The family operates a small farm and likes to camp and ride horses in their spare time. Currently, the Poraths are busy establishing a therapeutic horseback riding program to serve disabled Magic Valley children.
Outstanding Foundation Board Member of the Year
 |
Patricia Harder |
Patricia Harder was familiar with the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation through her husband, Fred's, tenure on both the Hospital and the Foundation Board. She became involved with the Foundation because, as she explains, "Everyone makes choices about what to do with their time. I've tried to be involved in things that positively impact the community. The Foundation works towards that goal." Pat became a Foundation Board member in 2007.
Pat is one of thirteen commissioners serving on the Idaho Commission on the Arts. She also belongs to the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization. She has previously served on the College of Southern Idaho's Foundation Board, and the Magic Valley Arts Council's Board. She was the Campaign Chairperson and President of the United Way, the President of the Junior Club and the President of the Magic Valley Arts Council. She also served on the very first Mayor's Committee for the Handicapped here in Twin Falls.
Magic Valley residents may remember Pat's store, "English House," which was located in downtown Twin Falls for 15 years. While the storefront closed locally, she maintains her business in an antique mall in Boise.
Pat has two children, daughter Ari and son Rick, both of whom live in Boise. She also enjoys spoiling her four grandchildren. In her spare time, Pat enjoys antiquing, traveling, reading and playing bridge.
With regard to her award, Pat says, "When one person receives an award, it's never just about that one person - it's a collaboration. I'm accepting this award on behalf of the work that everyone does for the Foundation."
Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
 |
J. Terry Dodds |
J. Terry Dodds was surprised to hear that he was the recipient of the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation's "Lifetime Achievement Award." Terry retired from the Board in 2009 after ten years of service; during this time, he spent two years as the Board's President and served on both the Finance and Executive Committees. It was during his years as president that the historic merger of the Magic Valley Regional Hospital with the St. Luke's System was overwhelmingly approved by the citizens of the County. He notes, "Because of my being where I was when I was, I was able to have some input into that process. The Hospital Board members who were so deeply involved at that time deserve a tremendous vote of thanks from this community for their Herculean efforts."
Terry credits Dr. Ben Katz for recruiting him to the Foundation Board. "When Dr. Katz contacted me about serving, it was my recognition of the vital role of the hospital in our community that made me want to see if there were a way I could help." He adds, "The quality of the people that serve on this Foundation Board is top notch. Being around such great people was the highlight of the whole thing."
Over the years, Terry has made a point of attending the Festival's Gala Celebration to kick off the holiday season, and he's enjoyed watching the behind-the-scenes scramble involved in the Foundation's fundraisers. "Those volunteers and the Foundation staff are great. It's amazing what they accomplish each year."
Terry's volunteerism extended beyond his Foundation Board responsibilities. He has also served on the boards of the Twin Falls Library Foundation and the Southern Idaho Learning Center, and he was president of the Twin Falls Music Club Scholarship Foundation.
As a CPA with an established business in Twin Falls, Terry particularly enjoys recovering from tax season with his wife, Cathy, by visiting their 23 grandkids.
Terry counts himself fortunate to be a part of the Magic Valley community. "We are so lucky. Some of the problems that people in other parts of the country are dealing with are just not as prevalent here. That's the reason why we need people to get involved in those activities that make things better for everyone. The real "magic" in this valley is the people who put something of themselves back into it. This is the only way we'll be able to retain the peace and tranquility, and the quality of life that we've enjoyed here for so many years." The St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation is indebted to Terry's commitment to growing health care programs for the Magic Valley community.
Business Supporter of the Year
Canyon Park, a Nielsen & Company Development
Craig H. Neilsen began accumulating land along the canyon rim over two decades ago, intending to create a gateway to the Twin Falls community worthy of the rim's striking natural landscape. Mr. Neilsen eventually oversaw the creation and initial development of the property collectively known as Canyon Park; Canyon Park East is a Twin Falls shopping destination, which includes Best Buy, Michael's and Sportsman's Warehouse, while Canyon Park North and West includes Outback Steakhouse and Johnny Carino's. Mr. Neilsen's vision has become an impressive reality for the Magic Valley community.
Mr. Neilsen was the owner of Neilsen & Company, a real estate development and construction company with a long list of impressive credentials, including the construction of numerous college campus buildings, residential communities and condominiums in Nevada and southern Idaho. Notably, Mr. Neilsen was the Chairman/CEO of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., which owns hotels and casino properties including Cactus Petes Resort Casino and the Horseshu Hotel & Casino in Jackpot, Nevada. Upon Mr. Neilsen's untimely death in 2006, his son, Ray Neilsen, became co-personal representative of the Neilsen Estate. Since 1991, Ray held various management positions with Ameristar and its subsidiaries. Ray was named the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Ameristar in May, 2008. He continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, which focuses on spinal cord injury research and treatment.
Gwen Anderson, Craig's mother, began the Neilsen family's tradition of charitable giving. She was one of the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation's first Legacy Society members. In 2009 alone, Ameristar Casinos, Inc. and its employees donated more than $7 million dollars to community organizations where its properties are located.
Canyon Park has been a Lead Sponsor of the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation's Festival of Trees since 2004. The Festival is the Foundation's largest fundraising event in the Magic Valley; Canyon Park's generous support of the Festival benefits women and children's health programs in the Magic Valley. The St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation is honored by Canyon Park's participation.
Philanthropist of the Year
Janice Seagraves, Seagraves Foundation
Janice Seagraves was born and raised in Hailey, Idaho. After graduating from Steven Henegar Business School in Salt Lake City, she worked at the University of Utah Library. In 1962, she married Hugh Robinson. Subsequent to moving to Texas and then to Nampa, they finally settled in Ketchum, where Janice worked at Atkinson's Market from 1991 until 1997.
On Christmas Day in 1996, Janice won the Idaho State Powerball. With the means to indulge her philanthropic nature, Janice used some of her winnings to create the Seagraves Foundation. The Foundation focuses primarily on women and children's issues and benefits charities along the Highway 93 corridor.
The Seagraves Foundation has been incredibly supportive of the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation. For many years, they sponsored the Festival of Trees. In addition, the Seagraves Foundation has generously given to the Cancer Patient Emergency Fund which assists cancer patients with immediate financial burdens by funding medication, groceries, and travel for treatments purposes.
In November 2008, the Seagraves Foundation once again showed their support to the St. Luke's Magic Valley Health Foundation by establishing the Seagraves Family Endowment. This endowment supports children who are being treated for cancer or other health issues at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center. The Health Foundation is truly humbled by the Seagraves ongoing generosity.
