CardiacCare Fund
 
The  CardiacCare Fund, supported by The Friends of Saint Francis, gives financial assistance to Saint Francis Medical Center cardiac patients who find themselves in financial distress. Since the fund's start in 2009, it has helped 85 area hearts!
The Friends Gala, held in March, contributed a check of $36,208.48 t o the CardiacCare Fund - and the annual Heart to Heart Luncheon, which has raised $48,000 since it began in 2007, provides essential cardiac care for women. To learn how this fund can really help a heart, please read Marjorie's story ...
 
Salmonella bacteria can cause a variety of problems for those unlucky enough to experience this often-serious form of food poisoning. For Marjorie Shockley, her salmonella episode began last April and resulted in congestive heart failure. Her heart's efficiency dropped to just 20 percent - a dangerously low level for patients of any age, especially a senior citizen.
 
Marjorie was admitted to Saint Francis Medical Center, where she spent 22 days as a patient, including four in the intensive care unit. Upon discharge, she spent another 15 days in a nursing home before finally returning home in June to the care of her husband. However, Marjorie was far from recovered. She slept most of the time, had difficulty eating and activities as simple as hanging clothes left her out of breath. Prior to her illness, Marjorie had exercised regularly, walking 30 minutes five days per week.
 
Now, she found herself getting weaker and weaker, and didn't know if she would survive. Marjorie desperately wanted to begin a cardiac rehabilitation program at Saint Francis Medical Center. The CardiacCare Fund provided the financial means she needed to get started right away. Thanks to the expertise of Cardiac Rehab staff and her doctors, Marjorie is getting stronger and walking more and more, and her heart efficiency has improved to 66 percent.
 
Understanding she may never return to the level of health she enjoyed prior to her health crisis, Marjorie is grateful for the assistance the CardiacCare Fund gave her on her road to recovery.

Another Phenomenal Year for The Friends 

As the year comes to a close, The Friends is proud of the fun-filled events and fundraising efforts that helped make a positive difference in the lives of Saint Francis patients and their families. Take a look at our 2016 highlights to see all the ways we made good ... on bringing so much good to our community.


Ken Hayden Golf Outing
The 13th Annual Ken Hayden memorial Golf Tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course was held May 16. The four-person mixed scramble brought 160 golfers together and raised more than $70,000. Since its start in 2004, the tournament has generated over $680,000 to help Saint Francis Healthcare System patients and their families in the region. Named in honor of Ken Hayden, who loved helping people and playing golf, its proceeds assist patients in a variety of beneficial ways.
 
Benefit Golf Outing
In August, more than 190 golf enthusiasts braved rainy conditions at the 29th Annual Friends of Saint Francis Benefit Golf Tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. The tournament raised more than $194,000 to help fund free valet parking services for Medical Center patients and visitors. Valet parking is located at four high-traffic entrances around the Medical Center. In 2015, Valet Services parked 34,031 cars at Saint Francis Medical Center for patients and visitors.
 
The Friends Gala
Friends members couldn't have predicted the success of the inaugural Friends Gala, held March 5 at the Isle Casino Event Center. The social event of the season featured live entertainment and a fabulous dinner, with proceeds going to the Healthcare System's Cancer and Cardiac patient assistance funds. A sold-out room of 236 guests raised more than $111,000 to help elevate our impact in the community. Thanks to our Gala Planning Committee and the overwhelming support of the Saint Francis community!
 
Kids Against Hunger Event
On October 2, volunteers joined together at Fitness Plus to pack life-saving Kids Against Hunger meals for starving and malnourished children and their families in developing countries and the United States. In just two hours, 23,600 meals were packed for local families via the Southeast Missouri Food Bank - surpassing the goal of 20,000 meals. 

Experience an Alaskan Land & Cruise Trip Adventure

On this amazing trip, you'll do and see it all! Enjoy a rail journey in a  luxury- domed railcar, take an expert guided Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park and relive Alaska's Gold Rush days in historic Skagway.
 
Departing September 12, 2017,
this 13-day trip includes visits to Vancouver, B.C. and the Denali National Park, and also will feature
a seven-day cruise  with stops including Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay and Inside Passage.  Other t rip stops include Fairbanks, Sternwheeler Discover, Music of Denali Dinner Theatre, Whittier, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Per-person rates are Single ($9,099), Double ($5,999) and Triple ($5,949), and the trip includes: roundtrip airfare, a seven-day cruise (includes taxes and fees), 25 meals (11 breakfasts, six lunches and eight dinners), an outside cabin with free balcony upgrade based on availability, plus air taxes, hotel transfers and miscellaneous expenses.
 
Learn more at The Friends Travel Show.
Get more details at our travel show on Thursday, December 8, at 6 pm in the Medical Center's Saint Therese Conference Room. To RSVP, please contact Laura Boos Propst at [email protected] or 573-331-5791 by Friday, December 2.

Dine and Give ... It's an Extra-Happy Meal!

Throughout November, area McDonald's restaurants will be our exclusive Share Day partners, donating a portion of dining proceeds in support of Saint Francis patients and their families. Bring in your family for a tasty, affordable meal and help us give back to those in need at one of these participating locations:

Advance 

Benton 

Charleston 

Cape Girardeau 

Dexter 

Jackson 

Malden 

Marble Hill 

Miner 

Sikeston 

                     
Philosophy
  • Support the Healthcare System, its patients and their families
  • Give back to the community through service
  • Transform lives for the better
Friends of Saint Francis

Saint Francis Healthcare System Foundation
211 Saint Francis Drive  ·  Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
573-331-5790  ·  foundation.sfmc.net