SHERIDAN – When T.R. Shelby announced a $100,000 matching gift for Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Growing for You campaign, community members and local foundations added their support to the project that includes updates to the hospital’s pharmacy, pediatric unit, emergency department and inpatient areas alongside the addition of a facility that will help serve the mental health needs of the community.
As the original match neared the $100,000 mark, Shelby extended his challenge another $100,000, rallying additional support for the campaign. Shelby’s generosity was recognized and celebrated at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees meeting Aug. 28.
“Mr. Shelby has been an active healthcare donor supporting Sheridan Memorial Hospital since he returned to the Sheridan community in 2021 after his wife Emily Stone Shelby passed away,” said Ada Kirven, The Foundation’s director of donor relations. “He contacted us when he needed some help downsizing, and it has been such a joy working with him over the past four years.”
Kirven said Shelby’s gift of $200,000 has been fully matched by nearly 100 community donors who made individual gifts to the behavioral health and Growing for You effort.
“That means we are $400,000 closer to meeting the goal of $15 million for this project that improves and supports excellent patient care across the organization,” Kirven said.
The hospital recently completed the first phase of the project, which focused on the new inpatient pharmacy. The next phase will repurpose the former pharmacy space into a brand new pediatric unit and upgrades to the Griffith Emergency Department. The project will culminate with the grand opening of the behavioral health wing. Each of the project’s phases utilizes and repurposes existing space to continue providing excellent, patient-centered care.
Shelby’s support is far reaching with gifts to the Welch Cancer Center, the Unrestricted Fund for hospital’s greatest needs, The Link in support of cancer screening and early diagnosis, and now the Behavioral Health Campaign. He has also developed several unique ways to support healthcare and our hospital though creative business opportunities like a storage building and housing for new professional staff who have been recruited to work at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. All of these opportunities have strengthened Sheridan Memorial Hospital and help to ensure excellent health care for our community and region.
With the SMH Board of Trustees, Shelby shared a story of his hometown losing its small, rural hospital because the community and philanthropy were not developed. When financial constraints forced the hospital to close its doors, Shelby said, it was a dire situation for everyone.
“I saw what that closure did to those folks, to their families and to the businesses,” Shelby said. “I want to help ensure Sheridan’s hospital continues to be strong and serve the community and this region of Wyoming. We all have to take care of each other, and this is one way I can contribute. Plus, my late wife, Emily, would be so pleased to know that her memory lives on through the work of our healthcare teams — I am certain she would be very proud of this work.”
For additional information about the Growing for You campaign and projects – or to contribute via The Foundation’s 100 Donors in 100 Days effort – see sheridanhospital.org/foundation/make-a-donation/.