𝗦𝗛𝗖𝗙’𝘀 $𝟭𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 
Something remarkable is taking place in Ellsworth County, and it starts with belief. Not just belief in healthcare or infrastructure, but belief in one another.
The Smoky Hills Community Foundation is proud to announce a $100,000 catalyst grant to the Ellsworth County Medical Center‘s Elevate Health expansion! This is the largest grant we have ever awarded to a capital project. And it comes with a message. This community is ready. We believe in what is being built and in the lives that will be changed because of it.
At the heart of this project is expanded outpatient specialty care. That growth is not just smart. It is necessary. As more families choose to build their lives here, as local businesses grow, and as healthcare continues to advance, so must the care we offer.
Services like infusion therapy, wound care, and pain management are already in high demand. By expanding these services, ECMC is ensuring that people across the county can get the care they need close to home. That is how strong communities take care of their own.
Alongside this expansion comes a redesigned rehabilitation facility built for what is next. The new space will include hydrotherapy, expanded physical and occupational therapy, and a new Community Wellness and Occupational Health Program that supports long term health for both individuals and local employers.
“Elevate Health reflects our vision for smarter, stronger, and more accessible rural healthcare,” said ECMC CEO Jim Kirkbride. “Thanks to SHCF’s generosity, we are taking the first step toward a future where every patient can thrive close to home.”
That first step matters. As the first committed funder, SHCF is proud to help launch this campaign. Being first is not about credit. It is about confidence. It is about showing up early, planting a flag, and saying to others, you can believe in this too.
This is more than a grant for us. It is a statement! SHCF is proud to be the first funder to say yes. Our belief is that local giving inspires local confidence, and we hope this gift sparks further momentum for this transformational project.
We also hope it encourages more founding donors to join the effort. Every contribution to Elevate Health is tax deductible and helps shape the future of care in Ellsworth County. Whether you give five dollars or fifty thousand, you become part of a lasting legacy that strengthens lives right here at home.
To our donors, thank you. This gift is yours. Your belief in our mission made it possible!
To the people of Ellsworth County, we invite you to be part of this moment. Elevate Health is more than a renovation. It is a reinvestment in our people, our potential, and the kind of future we believe this community deserves. Let this be a strong part of the legacy we leave for those who come next!
Visit www.smokyhillscf.org or www.ewmed.com to learn more or become a founding donor today.
– Colby Richard, Executive Director / SHCF
The Smoky Hills Community Foundation is a proud affiliate of the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation!
