SC Health Foundation Announces Extraordinary $1 Million Citizen Donation for Hospital to Help Close Deficit
Pinedale – The Sublette County Health Foundation today announced that it has received a donation of $1 million from Joe Ricketts, of Sublette County, to help close the gap in needed funds to build the new hospital. Formed in 2022, the Foundation’s mission is to raise financial support to advance the mission of Sublette County Health—to provide efficient, high-quality and patient-centered care.
In November of 2020, a majority of Sublette County residents voted in favor of building a critical access hospital and long-term care facility, but inflation, a sharp increase in construction costs, and a robust commercial construction market have caused a $9.2 million shortfall ahead of the spring timeline for construction. If the budget shortfall is not overcome in the next two weeks, construction could be delayed to the next year and potentially even threaten the viability of the project.
“Years of work and planning have gone into making a critical access hospital and nursing home facility a reality for our county and this budget shortfall is a setback,” said Kari DeWitt, Executive Director of the Sublette County Health Foundation. “Joe Ricketts’ generous donation is a critical first step to close the gap and will hopefully be a momentum builder. We are overwhelmed by his generosity. If others in the community are so inclined to make a donation to help ensure the construction of the hospital begins on time, we would be further humbled.”
The Sublette County Board of Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, to further discuss the budget shortfall, which now has been significantly reduced by the Ricketts donation.
“Few things are more personal or important than access to quality and timely health care,” said Joe Ricketts, owner of the Jackson Fork Ranch in Sublette County. “I am happy to be a part of the community coalition working to keep health care local and accessible.”
To learn more about the Sublette County Health Foundation or to donate, please visit www.sublettecountyhealthfoundation.org.