By Andrew S., Rosie E. and Jason M.
As the clock struck 12, the funds were closed at over $1.6 million for the “Shoulder to Shoulder” Lourdes Clinic fundraising campaign headed by Robert Wrighter. Wrighter, owner of the Hancock Telephone Company, said the official tally will be announced in mid to late April.
There were a number of donors to the “Shoulder to Shoulder” fund, ranging from individuals to large groups.
The Mee Foundation, a group that invests money in communities in Delaware and Broome counties in New York, and Cameron County, Pa., donated $500,000.
After this substantial donation, the Lourdes Foundation promised to match each dollar raised with a dollar of their own up to $500,000. The goal was to reach $2 million.
If the amount raised doesn’t reach $2 million, Wrighter said, “We’d just downsize. But the clinic will still be built.”
Lourdes applied for a HEAL-NY grant. State Senator John Bonacic wrote a letter of support for the grant on behalf of the Lourdes Clinic, believing that Lourdes should qualify for the grant, but efforts were unsuccessful.
Richard Berg, DO was sent by Lourdes Hospital to establish the Lourdes Clinic in Hancock in 2007. He said, “We have enough money to purchase the land and demolish the present structures. Whatever money is left over is what will be used to build whatever size building that money will buy.” Dr. Berg will be the primary physician at the clinic.
The original projected size of the Lourdes Clinic was subsequently 6,500 square feet and was reduced to around 5,500 square feet.
The new clinic will offer a number of advantages for the town. Physical therapy, more lab rooms and better lab capabilities will be made available.
Because of the size and quality of the new clinic, more patients will have access to more and better service.
Currently, if patients want to go to a clinic to receive adequate and complete care, they have to travel to the Lourdes Clinic in Binghamton.
The Lourdes Clinic would also help Hancock economically. According to Dr. Berg and Wrighter, businesses want to see health care in the area. The new clinic should encourage more businesses to locate in Hancock, which will greatly help the region.
Dr. Berg put it quite simply, “It’s going to happen. The more money we get, the more we will build.”
The T & A Hardware building was purchased from Jim and Regina Rotzler. The Rotzlers have until April 30 to vacate the building; demolition will start soon after.
If all goes well, construction should begin sometime early this summer.
Donations will be accepted after the March 31 deadline, but the money will not count towards Lourdes’ matching fund.
