Summit Pacific Medical Center CEO Josh Martin addresses campaign supporters at the signing of the final steel beam that will support the new structure of the expansion. Nate Root, Log Procurement Manager with Murphy Company and President of the Summit Pacific Medical Foundation Board, is in attendance (middle).

The Summit Pacific Medical Center Saving Lives Campaign—a robust Foundation endeavor that supports expanded hospital and emergency department services—has passed the $3 million fundraising mark in just over a year. This remarkable progress would not have been possible without the forest products industry in Grays Harbor, whose leaders have leaped into action to meet the urgent need.

“Some of the earliest and most significant gifts to the campaign came from Willis Enterprises and Murphy Company, who really led the way with commitments of $300,000 and $200,000, respectively,” says Brad Thomas, Executive Director of the Summit Pacific Medical Foundation.

“We were grateful to learn that Sierra Pacific Industries came in at $200,000 as well. That level of investment from these industry leaders demonstrates their dedication to the patients’ and our community’s health and well-being. The forest products industry is alive and well in Grays Harbor, and they are saving lives through this campaign!”

But those gifts weren’t the last from partners in the forest products industry. A few months later, Port Blakely gave a gift of $25,000, and most recently, Weyerhaeuser joined the campaign with a gift of $30,000. According to Josh Martin, CEO of Summit Pacific Medical Center, that was when the campaign leadership realized that the campaign had sparked something special.

“This type of mutual investment isn’t something you typically see in a capital campaign, and I think it really speaks to the generosity and passion of our partners in the forest products industry. It’s more than we could have hoped for, and we are so grateful for Murphy Company, Sierra Pacific, Port Blakely, Weyerhaeuser, and all industry leaders who are stepping forward to impact the lives of our patients.”

With the $3 million public phase goal now complete, the Summit team hopes that the forest products industry’s example will inspire more community business leaders to step forward and help the Saving Lives campaign reach $4 million in fundraising.

“My husband, Lee, and I are lifelong Grays Harbor residents. We grew up in the Elma area where both of our families lived before us, and we have lived on acreage near the Chehalis River for over fifty years. Now that we are older, we feel so blessed to have a healthcare facility so close to us, and it is exciting to know they are there to take care of our healthcare needs.

Sometimes as I enter the parking lot, I look up and think, ‘What if this wasn’t here? Where would I go? What would I do?’

Another great thing about Summit Pacific is that they are helping to grow our community by being involved with childcare, housing, and youth activities. It is a great investment, and we are so happy to be involved with Summit.”