HobNobMurfreesboro Announces MTMC Receives Lead Gift from Christy-Houston

Murfreesboro, TN, July 31, 2009 --(PR.com)-- HobNobMurfreesboro is pleased to announce that the Christy-Houston Foundation has pledged a $10 million grant toward the building of the new MTMC medical campus. It is the lead gift in a capital campaign fund raising effort that will support the construction of the new hospital. This is the single largest pledge from the foundation to any one organization since it was established in 1986.

“I am extremely appreciative and excited that the foundation board approved a $10 million grant,” says Gordon B. Ferguson, President and CEO of MTMC. “This is one more step toward providing the community with a brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital. It gives us enormous momentum in our capital campaign as we prepare to look to the community for support of this wonderful project.”

The hospital is scheduled to break ground early 2008 and the estimated completion date is the last quarter of 2010. “I am pleased to announce that when the new medical campus is completed, the Emergency Department will be named, the Christy-Houston Emergency Department,” Ferguson added.

The grant will be paid out in $1 million increments over the next 10 years. “The Christy-Houston Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Rutherford County,” said Bob Mifflin, Christy-Houston executive director. “We are proud to support a project that will enhance the quality of healthcare in our region.”

Nicholas Perlick, executive director of the MTMC Foundation noted his excitement towards the gift. “This substantial lead gift is significant to our capital campaign in numerous ways,” says Perlick. “It not only pushes us considerably closer to our goal, it also draws profound attention to this effort and will inspire the community to contribute. To be successful, we will need everyone’s support, and this gift positions us well to invite individuals and businesses to be part of bringing Murfreesboro’s new hospital to life.”

The Christy-Houston Foundation was established in 1986 after the sale of MTMC to Saint Thomas and Baptist Hospital. The mission of the foundation is to enhance the quality of life in Rutherford County with an emphasis on healthcare by distributing grants to programs and projects with a similar goal.

Middle Tennessee Medical Center is a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, a faith-based ministry with more than 7,200 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services consists of four hospitals: Baptist and Saint Thomas Hospitals in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville. It is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States.

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