The Kresge Foundation has awarded Lakeside Memorial Hospital a challenge grant of $300,000 in support of the Lakeside "Building for the Next Generation" Capital Campaign.

The Kresge Foundation is an independent, private foundation created by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not affiliated with any corporation or organization. John E. Marshall, III, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, indicated, "In this cycle of grant making, our Trustees were pleased to support a range of organizations reflecting almost the entire breadth of the nonprofit sector. This diverse group is responding to the new challenges presented by their communities or sustaining activities that have demonstrated their effectiveness."

In 2000, The Kresge Foundation reviewed 667 proposals and awarded grants totaling $133,525,000 to 211 charitable organizations in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, England and Africa. Grants are made to institutions operating in the areas of higher education, health and long term care, arts and humanities, human services, science and the environment and public affairs. Grants are made toward projects involving construction or renovation of facilities and the purchase of major capital equipment or real estate. Grant recipients have raised initial funds toward their respective projects before requesting Foundation assistance.

All grants are made on a challenge basis, requiring the raising of the remaining funds and thereby ensuring the completion of the campaign and the project. Lakeside will not receive their support until it has met its goal of $3 million in support of the renovation of the hospital's Obstetrics and Surgical Departments.

"This is a very exciting moment in the campaign. It was my pleasure to be one of the volunteers and staff who visited the Kresge Foundation last December," said Bud Hendershot, honorary chair of the campaign. "I am so pleased that Lakeside's 'Quality Care Close to Home' has been recognized by this very prestigious Foundation."

"This remarkable grant takes Lakeside almost to the $2.4 million marker. I know it will inspire our donors and volunteers to not only meet, but exceed our goal of $3 million by December 2002," said Robert W. Harris, Lakeside CEO.