The Meeker community has a long-standing tradition of caring for one another and delivering compassionate healthcare near the comfort and convenience of home. Your efforts and contributions play an integral role in achieving the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation mission.
This giving spirit dates back to the 1880s, when Meeker was founded by a group of pioneers who arrived together and cooperated in building their town. In fact, one of Meeker’s founders, Freeman Fairfield, also became the town’s greatest benefactor. After spending his childhood in Meeker, he made his fortune in the oil industry. The town always remained near and dear to Fairfield, and he stayed involved in the community even though life brought him to California.
“Deep in the heart of every man there is a special affection for the spot where he was born. No matter how far he may wander, he is tied to his home town by associations and memories he can never forget and usually has no desire to forget,” said Fairfield.
Throughout his life, Fairfield made numerous philanthropic contributions to the Meeker community, including a donation of over $175,000 towards the construction of Pioneers Hospital in 1950. He also donated $25,000 to the Walbridge Wing in order to ensure the nursing home’s residents had a Christmas party and gifts each year.
When he died in 1967, Fairfield established a $2 million trust fund to be used for the benefit of the people living in Meeker and throughout Rio Blanco County. The money from this trust has enriched the Meeker community in countless ways, and it has helped Pioneers Medical Center continue to meet the growing healthcare needs of our community.
Freeman Fairfield isn’t Meeker’s only benefactor. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Walbridge funded the creation of our town’s long-term care facility, which has been named in their honor. The caring heart and generous actions of Freeman Fairfield and the Walbridge family highlight the ways the individuals living in Meeker can forever impact the lives of our entire community. Pioneers Healthcare Foundation carries the torch of our community’s giving spirit in order to continue paying it forward for future generations.
There are many ways you can help sustain and build quality healthcare in Meeker:
Your gift is tax-deductible under the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation’s 501(c)3 status. It will promote quality healthcare in our community, expand local healthcare services, and compassion for close-to-home care.
Did you know donations of $250.00 or more to PHF qualify for additional State tax credits? Colorado taxpayers contributing to targeted enterprise zone (EZ) projects can receive an additional tax credit through the Enterprise Zone Contribution Tax Credit.
For example, donating $250 would receive a state tax credit of $62.50.
This tax credit is capped at $100,000 per taxpayer per tax year. If you cannot use all your credits in a given tax year, you can carry forward the balance for up to five years.
We are the only project with this designation in Rio Blanco County! Please get in touch with Cindy Rholl ([email protected]) if you are interested in this tax credit, as more information is needed to process your donation to ensure you receive the additional tax credits.
While financial donations are always in need, there are other ways you can get involved beyond giving money. Your time, energy and participation in PHF events are crucial to our ability to carry out our mission. Some ways to donate your time include:
In addition to relying on the generosity of individual donors in the community, PHF has also established a sponsorship program to help fund specific programs and events, event advertising, and other administrative functions crucial to the success of the Foundation.
There are five different sponsorship recognition levels:
Thank you to this year’s donors. We could not do what we do without you!
We’d like to take a moment to recognize some of the donors who contributed to the Foundation in 2020:
The Pioneers Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization with the mission to raise philanthropic dollars for healthcare programs, services and equipment that will strengthen our community’s healthcare capacity. This will allow for the highest quality medical services and programs, provide new programs and improved technologies, and allow for enhanced access to cost-effective healthcare. We hope to inspire compassion in our community today and for generations to come.