Memorial Health System and Memorial Health Foundation Celebrate Announcement of Together Campaign
(October 9, 2024, Marietta, Ohio) – The grounds of Memorial Health System’s Belpre Medical Campus were a hub of activity on the afternoon of October 8th as over 700 guests gathered to witness a historic moment for healthcare in the Mid-Ohio Valley—the official groundbreaking of Memorial Health System’s Women and Children’s Hospital and the announcement of Memorial
Health Foundation’s Together Campaign.
A five-year, 50-million-dollar endeavor, the Together Campaign aims to significantly alter the healthcare landscape of our region by supporting the creation of Southeastern Ohio’s only hospital dedicated to women and children, ensuring an endowment to secure the future of care for the community, and by contributing to the cornerstone of Memorial Health Foundation, the Memorial Health Fund.
Together Campaign Steering Committee Co-Chairs, Dan Breece, DO, and Leah Breece, spoke at the close of the groundbreaking event, sharing with those gathered the vision of the campaign, as
well as the importance of its mission and the necessity of its success.
“We are rooted in this community,” shares Dr. Breece. “We have been here for fifteen years and have two beautiful children here in the area, so we know what it means to bring world-class
healthcare to this community. You expect great healthcare and you deserve great healthcare, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Acknowledging that this region deserves healthcare that is equal to that of any urban area and recognizing that a thriving healthcare system is truly the foundation of a healthy community, the Together Campaign seeks to expand services, meet the needs of current patients, and guarantee that future patients have access to the care they deserve. “This is the most ambitious campaign that we’ve ever had,” explains Dr. Breece, “but we can’t do it alone—we can do it together.”
The campaign’s silent phase began on October 1, 2022, and thanks to an outstanding $30 million contribution from the State of Ohio, the campaign has since raised $37 million towards its $50
million goal. With the launch of the campaign’s public phase during the October 8th groundbreaking event, it was revealed that Memorial Health Foundation’s current goal is to raise
an additional $13 million by December 2027.
Along with the announcement of the public phase, Memorial Health Foundation was incredibly honored to receive three generous gifts from community organizations: $125,000 from Sisters
Health Foundation, presented by Rene Steffen, Executive Director; $125,000 from Marietta Welfare League, presented by Cathy Rees, President; and $100,000 from Marietta Community
Foundation, presented by Heather Allender, President. These organizations recognize our region’s desperate need for quality, local healthcare and graciously chose to support the Together
Campaign’s mission of bringing that care to southeastern Ohio.
Memorial Health Foundation calls on community members to unite, join those who have already risen to the challenge, and engage in this vital conversation. By joining the Together Campaign,
anyone can play an essential role in shaping the future of healthcare in the region and create a lasting impact on the health of their friends, family, and neighbors. Together, change can be
achieved, and lives can be improved—support the movement by visiting TogetherMHF.org.
