For the Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – The St. Vincent de Paul Free Medical Clinic will expand services and families who utilize The Ronald McDonald House in Marshfield will benefit from additional resources thanks to more than $1 million in gifts from the Foundation of Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital, part of Ascension.

The gift came as the foundation’s board of directors allocate the remaining unrestricted funds from the organization.

With the support of dedicated volunteers, donations, and community partners, St. Vincent de Paul has been providing health care services to the Marshfield community for more than 20 years and with this $1 million gift, they will be prepared to enhance free health care services for patients and the community.

The free clinic provides primary care, preventive care, and chronic disease management until patients can obtain insurance and/or become established with a permanent health care provider. They also provide funding for services such as medication, medical supplies, lab tests, eye exams, and eyewear.

“On behalf of the entire volunteer staff of the St. Vincent de Paul Free Medical Clinic, I am at once humbled and thrilled to accept this very generous legacy gift which will help ensure continued success in providing necessary health care and service support to the uninsured and under-insured residents in the Marshfield area,” said Karen Shulman, MD, medical director of St. Vincent de Paul Free Medical Clinic and Marshfield Clinic physician. “The Ministry Saint Joseph’s Foundation is to be honored and thanked for its acknowledgement of the importance of this work and its foresight in helping us sustain our services far into the future.”

The Board also approved more than $161,000 in unrestricted funds for two projects through Ronald McDonald House Charities of Marshfield (RMHC). The RMHC Legacy Park & Playground will be an innovative outdoor play space for families at the House as well as the potential for supervised rehabilitation for pediatric patients. The Hospitality a la Carte is a compassion on wheels project that will provide resources for the needs of families of seriously ill children at Marshfield Children’s Hospital.

“Play is so important to the health and well-being of children,” said Dr. Jill Meilahn, Marshfield Clinic Health System Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine physician and foundation board member. “The Legacy Park & Playground will allow children to run, play, and laugh. Additionally, pediatric rehabilitation patients will be able to use the playground with Recreational Therapy as they recover from serious injuries or medical conditions providing safe re-entry practice to typical childhood activities”.

In the final phase of allocating the balance of unrestricted gifts, the board wanted to ensure that the legacy of Ministry Saint Joseph’s and its foundation remain within the community.

“The Foundation’s Board of Directors has diligently reviewed more than 50 restricted funds and has worked tirelessly to disburse the funds while honoring donor intent,” said Pat Wesenberg, foundation Chairperson. “These projects align with the mission of the Ministry Saint Joseph’s Foundation and will be a tremendous help to families and those who so desperately need health care in our community.”

The Foundation of Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital was established in 1991 to support the mission to further the healing ministry of Jesus by continually improving the health and well-being of all people, especially the poor, in the communities we serve.