New executive at helm of Bethesda Foundation
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As a new executive team takes charge of the Bethesda Foundation, new board chair Chris Goertzen said the goals continue to remain the same.
He said for the past 44 years the foundation has seen their role as ensuring there are adequate facilities for health care.
“That hasn’t changed,” he said. “We know very clearly that a thriving community has good health care and so we want to make sure that Steinbach continues to thrive, and people’s lives improve. Health care is an important piece of that, so that will not change.”
Joining Chris Goertzen on the executive is Waldo Neustaedter as vice chair and Henry Van de Velde as secretary.
All three have served on the Bethesda Foundation Board of Directors for many years.
The board has seen change in recent years.
Long-time board chair Garth Reimer died in 2023, and his replacement, Darrel Penner died in June.
Goertzen said he feels privileged to serve as board chair on the shoulders of others who worked tirelessly for the community.
“It’s a great board,” he said. “It’s a board that has a diverse group of individuals who have diverse backgrounds, so we all bring something to the table, trying to promote and improve health care in Steinbach and the region.”
Goertzen said the foundation has been very effective both as a lobbying group and a funding group.
They’ve funded the Cancer Care facility, birthing centre, primary health care clinic, Stonebrook Medical Centre and the crisis stabilization unit.
And while they took on small projects in the early years, their influence continues to grow.
The $35 million expansion of the hospital was made possible thanks to an $8 million commitment from Bethesda Foundation.
“Much of that wouldn’t have happened without the Bethesda Foundation advocating for better than what was going to be given,” he said.
Goertzen added that success is made possible by the community.
“We have a very generous community,” he said. “We have people wanting to improve health care and we are the conduit for that to take place.”