Prior Lake, Minnesota - Philanthropic support of St. Francis Regional Medical Center has reached a new high with a $500,000 gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. SMSC Vice-Chairman Glynn Crooks presented the check on behalf of the entire SMSC Community at the 20th annual St. Francis Foundation gala on Saturday, November 11, 2006. "This is the largest gift we have ever made to a charitable organization in Scott County," said Stanley R. Crooks, SMSC Chairman. "We see great value in continuing to grow our relationship with the community through this gift to St. Francis."

The gift supports the hospital's recent $40 million project to advance care in the surrounding communities, including the renovation of the Emergency Department. The St. Francis Emergency Department has grown from 16 to 21 exam rooms to meet pressing capacity needs. Additional beds, as well as additional triage rooms, enhance flow and help patients feel more comfortable.

"We are enormously grateful to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for this extraordinary gift," said Carley Stuber, St. Francis Foundation Executive Director. "This gift is a wonderful representation of what philanthropy is all about-trust, commitment, and the desire to join with others to make a difference while partnering with the community." Tom O'Connor, St. Francis President, recently shared what an incredible responsibility St. Francis has in meeting the needs of our growing community. "We take this responsibility very seriously," he said. "Having community philanthropic donors such as the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community with this gracious gift will allow us to continue to pursue excellence at St. Francis."

Vice-Chairman Crooks said, "Many things come into play when you make a philanthropic decision. We believe that St. Francis' role is great. It is a priority for us and the community at large."

St. Francis is advancing patient care by providing the facilities, equipment, physicians, and technology which is needed and expected of a nationally recognized hospital. In fact, it recently transitioned to an electronic medical records system and broke ground on a project that will triple the size of its Medical Office Building. A 3,000 square-foot expanded and remodeled St. Francis Cancer Center includes the addition of new state-of-art chemotherapy treatment chairs in the infusion area, designed by patients and staff. A Meditation Garden will be constructed near the building entrances to further enhance patient care, thanks to hundreds of community donors. The garden will include a water feature, memorial benches, and more. Construction will begin in the spring of 2007 and is expected to be completed during summer of 2007.

"Without generous donors like the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community we would not be able to keep up with the needs and expectations of our communities. We are most grateful for their contribution," said O'Connor.

Underlying the connection between the SMSC and St. Francis is the shared value of having quality health care in the community. "We see this relationship as a merging of two similar visions," said Chairman Crooks. "St. Francis has a commitment to excellence in health care, as does the SMSC. While St. Francis is the local hospital where many of our Community members go for their health care, we believe this donation will help ensure excellence continues with high-quality staff and resources which will benefit all who use St. Francis."

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