By Lori EhdeThe Luverne Community Health Care Foundation officially became the Luverne Area Community Foundation last week.In a Feb. 18 meeting of the foundation board, the bylaws were changed to reflect a new direction for the organization."We’ve had a number of individuals who have wanted to leave money to the Luverne area in their wills, but not necessarily to health care," said Mike Reker, foundation president."This is one vehicle where they can donate money to a number of charitable organizations in the community."The Health Care Foundation has existed in Luverne since 1984 and has a balance of $1.2 million that’s supported various health-related causes.For example, it supports the Hospice Cottage and serves as the sponsoring organization for the annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction. Other Health Care Foundation projects include pool equipment at the Rock County Pool and Fitness Center and hospital patient equipment, such as the Lifeline program.As the new Luverne Area Community Foundation, the $1.2 million balance will be dedicated to health care and hospice causes.The Health Care Foundation’s last big project was the $1 million fund-raiser for the new Sioux Valley Hospital and Clinic campus under construction north of the Veteran’s Addition.Reker said the new Community Foundation will be able to accept donations for broader purposes."We wanted to attempt to help other non-profits and attempt to help other people with their donating decisions," he said."I think there have been some big donations that have left town because there wasn’t a central, general non-profit option for giving."He said funds can be donated for specific causes, such as the Rock County Fine Arts Association or the Rock County Historical Society. "Attorneys for estates have told us that families often don’t want to write individual checks for each organization," Reker said. "They want to write one check for all the causes they want to designate." Or, funds can be donated for the general betterment of the community, with Foundation Board members deciding where the money will go."We’ll be contacting a lot of the smaller non-profits that have a hard time maintaining balances," Reker said. "Maybe they’ll want to throw in with us for a better return."Current board members include Reker, Greg Burger, Marilyn Bloemendaal, Don Klosterbuer, Darrel Siebert, Barb Golla, Sue Skattum, Larry Nelson and Donna Scholten.Reker said the board is looking for additional members. "We keep striving to get a good cross-section of the community," he said.Administrative assistant Michelle Van Dyke can answer questions about the foundation at 220-2424.
