Times to Remember

Since 1981, Longmont United Hospital Foundation has championed and supported outstanding healthcare in the Longmont Community.

Bryan Bowles - LUHF Director 1993-2017

"During the Ground breaking ceremony of the Hope Cancer Care Center in 1994, several members of the community spoke about the importance of having local radiation therapy close to home. I remember in particular one of our board members talked about having to drive a loved one to Boulder for radiation therapy several times a week for many months because this service was not available in Longmont. He told us about how the anxiety, inconvenience and fatigue of this routine affected the patient and how this new center was going to be a most welcome and needed addition to our hospital. The ceremony was a very moving and touching event and it gave great meaning to the important work the Foundation does and the positive impact it has on the hospital and community. The donor wall in the lobby of The Hope Cancer Care center is a wonderful tribute to the many people who gave so generously to make it a reality. I know I was honored to be working with such caring and dedicated people."

Mitch Carson - LUH CEO 2001-2018

“One of the programs I was most impressed with over the years was the scholarship program. This program in my mind set the Foundation apart from similar organizations because these leaders understood that hospitals are clearly more than bricks and mortar or impressive new clinical equipment. Their recognition of the importance to the hospital of helping individuals pursue critical healthcare professions was something very special. The Foundation's first 40 years has been an unqualified success and the current leadership and Board are well prepared to lead us forward into the next 40 years!”

Ron Cheyney - LUHF Trustee and Board Chair 2018-2020

“It is my pleasure to share with you one of my most memorable events during my time while serving on the board of The Longmont United Hospital Foundation. At the very first meeting that I attended the Foundation Board was given a presentation of the possibility of helping the hospital purchase a couple of high-fidelity simulator mannequins that would be used to help train hospital staff, associates, and community partners, such as EMTs and other first responders. It would be the start of the “Innovative Learning Center” at Longmont United Hospital. These simulators were “state-of-the-art”, offering real-time feedback of medical conditions. They were amazingly life-like and could even give verbal feedback. The presentation concluded with the hope that the Hospital Foundation would help raise some money to purchase them in the future. I was so impressed with the value that these mannequins could add to Longmont United Hospital that I stated my case for the outright purchase of them immediately. I made the motion to do so, and after a short discussion the motion passed unanimously. Since that purchase, the Hospital has added more mannequins, giving the Innovative Learning Center a whole family, including a dad, a mom who can actually give birth to a baby mannequin, and also a toddler that is used in Pediatric training. The LUH Volunteers also purchased a preemie mannequin as part of the Sim Family. The Innovative Learning Center draws participants to their demonstrations from all over the Front Range and has helped to make Longmont United Hospital a true leader in training and education in the health care field. I am honored to have been a part of that important addition to Longmont United Hospital.”

John Flanders - LUHF Board Chair and LUH Board Chair

“Endowment has been a core element of the Longmont United Hospital Foundation. Because we valued having money in endowment we had enough liquid assets to purchase Le Deauville apartment complex to the southwest of the hospital in 2006 for future expansion. While expansion did not happen—the apartments were sold for a 254% increase. They got the benefit. This was basically a gift from the Foundation to the hospital of $9.1 million. The Endowment also allowed us to seed the Scholarship Program to address the need for employees. The Scholarships helped to attract staff in the areas needed. That program still exists today. The Foundation endowment is “cookie jar money” and it has proven beneficial many times over the years.”

Ed Kanemoto - LUHF Trustee and LUH Board Chair

“One of my best memories of LUHF was when LUH was working with the investment banking firm to issue the bond financing for the Patient Tower. The bond rating for LUH was good, but with the cash assets of LUHF added, the rating was improved significantly and the cost of repayment decreased. The savings to the hospital were significant and assets would eventually go to LUH for projects. It served a double purpose of saving money for our community hospital, while the corpus was still intact. The best of both worlds! I credit the Boards of LUH and LUHF for working together for the betterment of the Longmont community.”

Stacey Jackson - Manager, LUH Volunteer Services & Gift Store

“I have worked at Longmont United Hospital for 17 years and have been with Volunteer Services for 13 years. My favorite time with the Foundation has been the last few years working with Cindy Noble and Shirley Lemmex. I love the partnership that has been solidified with the Volunteer Board and the Foundation. The creative collaboration we share now brings enrichment and joy to why we support the hospital. This makes our organizations stronger but makes the hospital unique and special in our community and in our state.”

Alissa Kegler - LUH Director of Quality, Education & Care Coordination

"Some of my favorite Foundation memories are the Innovative Learning Center sessions we had to introduce the public to the manikins! Talking to some of our former doctors and nurses, showing off the latest educational technology. Also, using the manikins in our LAUNCH and Career Day presentations (as well as the EMS training days)! Such a fantastic way to include the community in learning about healthcare! None of those experiences would be possible without the incredible generosity and vision of the LUH Foundation!!! Thank you for what you do every day for LUH and the Longmont Community!"

Shirley Lemmex - LUHF Business Support

"Discovering the history of the LUH Foundation and the Hospital has been interesting and inspiring! The generosity of the local people to benefit the local community with buildings and programs, meeting the first woman to serve on the Hospital Board of Directors, understanding the impact of gift after gift to support the scholarship program – incredible! As a Foundation employee I now am a part of making history – supporting the Innovative Learning Center, supporting our Project Homecoming meals program, and working with managers to use designated funds to enhance the people and programs in their departments. Both big and little things given have earned Cindy and me the nickname of Foundation Fairy Godmothers."

Dick Lyons - LUHF Trustee and LUH Board Chair

“I think my favorite memory of the Foundation is attending the scholarship breakfast pre-COVID and sitting with two past recipients and listening to them explain the impact of the Foundation scholarships. To the Committee, it may not seem like a large amount but to the recipients, our scholarships often are the difference between advancing or not advancing the recipient’s education because no institution gives full-rides. It takes financing from various sources. Ours do make a difference!”

Stephanie McKay - LUH Board Chair

“My favorite memory is working with the Foundation during the building of the LUH Patient Tower. The Foundation made it possible for families and businesses to have naming opportunities for different rooms and services and the community stepped up in a big way! If you walk around the hospital today, you will see many plaques bearing the names of local people and businesses who donated money to our beautiful community hospital.”

Kent Nelson - LUHF Trustee and LUH Board Chair

“When I look back on my years as a Trustee at Longmont United Hospital Foundation, I am reminded of the importance of quality volunteering from so many dedicated people in the past 65 years. There were so many who stood out as beacons of success and hard work. A few who influenced me were Milt Nelson, John Flanders, Bill Boettcher, Ed Kanemoto, Carol Yoakum, and Ken Huey. They showed the same “life blood” leadership, energy, and spirit that made many of us want to try to emulate them. Knowing a few of the present directors, I feel we are in a great position to move forward successfully in the next 65 years. Longmont is so fortunate to have the Foundation and its volunteers rom the past and looking ahead to a legacy that enhances the future generations of health care in our community.”

Cindy Noble - LUHF Director 2017 to Present

"Some of my favorite Foundation memories are the Innovative Learning Center sessions we had to introduce the public to the manikins! Talking to some of our former doctors and nurses, showing off the latest educational technology. Also, using the manikins in our LAUNCH and Career Day presentations (as well as the EMS training days)! Such a fantastic way to include the community in learning about healthcare! None of those experiences would be possible without the incredible generosity and vision of the LUH Foundation!!! Thank you for what you do every day for LUH and the Longmont Community!"

Edwina Salazar - LUHF Trustee and LUH Board Member

“In the years that I was on the LUH Foundation Board, I was most proud of the Foundation’s continuing education scholarships. The Foundation’s investment in the Hospital’s staff’s life long learning has undoubtedly benefited the health of the Longmont community significantly. Hearing the personal stories from the staff of how the Foundation’s assistance helped strengthen their skills, knowledge and adaptability to assure quality patient care was a peak experience for me.”

Ginny Shaw - LUH Foundation Trustee

“Even though I was not on the Board 40 years ago, I have memories of the start-up times from my dad, Milt Nelson. He would be truly amazed at the position the Hospital is in today, and what a great asset it's been to the Longmont community over the years. ​This can be attributed to the time & talents each member has given the Foundation over the years. It has truly been appreciated by all. I have felt grateful to have been a part of this organization, and wish the next 40 years to be as successful.”

Carol Yoakum - LUHF Trustee & LUH Board Member

“After the LUH Foundation was formed in 1981, most of our projects were "bricks and mortar". I have been privileged to work with dedicated trustees since the beginning and it feels so good to be part of keeping and improving the quality of care at LUH for the needs of our growing community. In 2005 when several improvements were underway, one was the new advanced Emergency Department. I'm proud to have this State-of-the-Art facility manned by the board-certified Longs Peak Emergency Physicians. My husband and I participated in the funding of this important need.”