Transforming care: $1.5 million donation from Idaho Elks to expand St. Luke’s rehabilitative and behavioral health services

St. Luke’s Health Foundation recently announced they would be receiving a $1.5 million donation from the Idaho Elks Association that would aid in addressing the growing need for additional rehabilitative and behavioral health services in the region. The tremendous investment will result in better patient access to necessary rehabilitation services, while also supporting St. Luke’s mission to tackle the region’s mental health crisis.

St. Luke’s and the Idaho Elks have worked together for decades to provide quality rehabilitative care to Idahoan families. In addition to their generous annual contributions, this year, the Elks Board of directors took that partnership one step further by investing in St. Luke’s behavioral health services expansion.

Keith Mills, Idaho Elks Rehab administrator says, “When you have a partner like St. Luke's and see the tremendous good they do in our communities, it's easy for our organization to support the worthy causes they champion. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care for our local communities and will continue to do so as long as we are able.” 

The donation will provide $1 million towards the future expansion of St. Luke’s Rehabilitative clinics in Meridian and McCall, which will ultimately bring extended services to both areas, allowing the clinics to see more patients annually, reducing appointment wait times and increasing access to services for local patients. Additional support from the community is needed as fundraising continues for the expansions in Meridian and McCall.

Since 1946, the Idaho Elks have supported the physical rehabilitation needs of Idahoans to help them live life to the fullest. As health care needs have continued to evolve over time, the Idaho Elks have recognized the behavioral health crisis impacting local communities. Idaho continues to struggle to meet the needs of access for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, spending the least amount in the nation on mental health services per capita.

The gift from the Elks will also help address this issue by investing $500,000 to support the expansion of St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Adult Services, opening June 2025. The new clinic will feature state-of-the-art Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) technology and support hiring new clinical specialists, which will increase adult patient access up to 75%.

Travis Bradburn, vice president and chief philanthropy officer, St. Luke’s Health Foundation emphasized how grateful St. Luke’s is for the support from the Idaho Elks. 

“This tremendous donation to St. Luke’s epitomizes the difference that community partnerships and philanthropy can make on the lives of people in our communities. The Idaho Elks commitment is providing the valuable support needed to help us live our mission to improve the health of those in the communities we serve.”