The Bronson Greatest Need Fund provides ongoing support for Bronson Healthcare as needs emerge. Because these gifts are unrestricted, they give the Foundation flexibility in addressing specific funding priorities as they arise.
The purpose of the Bronson Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Fund is to foster and support the comprehensive, high-quality care for patients.
This includes but is not limited to:
- New technologies
- Education for physicians, staff and community
- Facilities development
- Innovative models of care delivery
To learn about Advanced Illness Management services at Bronson, visit the website.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other memory-related issues, can be difficult to receive and requires a highly specialized team to communicate with patients and their families. A group of clinicians including physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians and social workers help patients and families understand treatment options and assist in the coordination of care and community services.
The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Treatment Fund supports neurobehavioral health in order to create the best possible experience for patients and families as part of a comprehensive care plan. This includes but is not limited to inpatient and outpatient service delivery, education to advance the understanding of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, facility improvements, coordination of care and new technologies. The Fund also supports research, access to clinical trials, symposiums, and innovation in treatment options.
The purpose of the BBC Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Fund is to support the special needs of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Departments at Bronson Battle Creek. This includes but is not limited to:
- Purchase new equipment, replacing and upgrading technology worn from continuous use
- Patient scholarships and education
- Patient activities/celebrations
The BBC Diabetes Fund supports the special needs of the Diabetes Center at Bronson Battle Creek. This includes but is not limited to:
- New equipment
- Patient scholarships and education
- Patient activities/celebrations
Bronson Battle Creek Little Angel Rest Fund
This fund enables Bronson Battle Creek to provide a compassionate experience and closure for patients and families suffering from a fetal or newborn death.
The Bronson Battle Creek BirthPlace provides families with mementos of their child such as a plaster mold of their child’s feet, hand and foot prints and lock of hair if possible, as well as a photo, fabric heart, blanket, gown, hat and a ring and bracelet set.
For patients and families who have lost a fetus under 20 weeks gestation, this fund covers cremation, urn and burial.
Bronson Battle Creek Mammogram Fund
This fund helps defray the cost of mammograms for female patients at Bronson Battle Creek who do not have insurance.
Bronson Battle Creek Volunteer Fund
Bronson Battle Creek Volunteers have a mission to enhance the services of Bronson Battle Creek and to assist in better serving our community. They do through a variety of services including staffing the information desks, being patient visitors, providing pet therapy, assisting in the Emergency Department and Cancer Center, and cuddling newborns. Their guilds produce handmade quilts, hats, mittens, tray favors and a variety of other items for our patients.
Moneys raised through these efforts support their annual major project. The volunteers also raise money through their memorial fund to finance college scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing a career in healthcare.
Click here if you are interested in volunteering at Bronson Battle Creek.
Bronson Commons Fund
The purpose of the Bronson Commons Fund is to provide support of Bronson Commons with an emphasis on supporting enhancements and safeguarding the patient experience.
Bronson South Haven Fund
The purpose of The Bronson South Haven Fund is to foster and support comprehensive, high quality care for patients specifically in the Bronson South Haven service area. This includes but is not limited to:
- New technologies
- Education for physicians, staff and community
- Facilities development and capital improvement
- Innovative models of care delivery
Click Here to Make a Gift to Support the Bronson South Haven Fund
Some specific programs supported in South Haven include:
Telemedicine devices
Life jacket loaner stations
Reach Out and Read
Vein Visualization
Glidescopes
Bronson Wellness Center Scholarships: Bronson Health Foundation provides $50,000 annually in scholarships for full year and partial year memberships to community members who are unable to afford the membership.
Safe Kids Greater South Haven: Safe Kids is a community collaborative to reduce death and injury to children in the community by raising community awareness, participating in school and community events, providing education programs, initiating public policy changes, monitoring product safety and distributing safety devices (including but not limited to car seat safety, bicycle safety and water safety). These safety programs provide parents with the resources they need to help prevent childhood injuries.
Cancer Center - Battle Creek Fund
The purpose of the Bronson Cancer Center - Battle Creek Fund is to support the special needs of the Bronson Cancer Center - Battle Creek. This includes but is not limited to:
- Assuring patients have access to needed medications, transportation, nourishment, durable medical equipment etc.
- Purchase new equipment as well as replacing or upgrading technology
- Patient and staff education
- Patient and survivor activities/celebrations
- Research related support
The former Cancer Care Medication Fund and Cancer Special Needs Fund have been merged into this one, over-arching fund.
To learn more about the Cancer Center, click here.
Cancer Center - Kalamazoo Fund
The purpose of the Cancer Care - Kalamazoo Fund is to support the special needs of the Cancer Center - Kalamazoo. This includes but is not limited to:
- Ensuring patients have access to needed medications, transportation, nourishment, durable medical equipment etc.
- Purchase new equipment as well as replacing or upgrading technology
- Patient and staff education
- Patient and survivor activities/celebrations
- Research related support
- Make a Gift: Cancer Center - Kalamazoo Fund (bronsonhealth.com)
Children's Hospital Fund
Community Health Fund
The Bronson Community Health Fund focuses on the maintenance, protection, and improvement of the health status of population groups and communities. It is a lens through which Bronson views the whole person and ways which the external environment contributes to health outcomes. Specifically, Bronson looks at the social influences of health to understand which evidenced-based initiatives, partnerships, and strategies Bronson can participate in to improve health outcomes for members of our region.
This can include support for the following but is not limited to:
- Maternal infant health
- Substance abuse initiatives
- Behavioral health
- Access to healthcare
- Addressing health disparities and racial inequities
Constance Brown Hearing Assistance Fund
Employee in Crisis Fund
Healthy Living and Sustainability Fund
The purpose of the Bronson Healthy Living and Sustainability Fund is to support the Bronson Healthy Living and Sustainability Initiative which involves the following:
- The development of transformational systems and technology around waste and energy reduction.
- Catalyzing growth of local/regional food sourcing, mobility and housing innovation and other dimensions of physical and environmental well-being.
The philosophy governing this initiative is that personal health can be sustained and improved by an overall healthy environment including a strong economic environment.
Heart and Vascular Fund
The Bronson Heart & Vascular Fund was created in June 2014 through a gift from a Bronson employee wishing to remain anonymous.
The purpose of The Bronson Heart & Vascular Fund is to foster and support the comprehensive, high quality care for patients in need of heart and vascular services. This includes but is not limited to:
- New technologies
- Education for physicians, staff and community
- Subspecialty growth & development
- Facilities development
- Innovative models of care delivery
To learn about heart and vascular care across the Bronson Healthcare system, visit the website.
Mental Health and Well-being Fund
Mothers' Milk Bank Fund
This fund was established in December of 2004 to aid in developing a non-profit human milk bank at Bronson Methodist Hospital. A mother’s own milk is the best food for her baby. When a mother can’t provide breast milk, however, pasteurized milk from healthy donor mothers is the next best thing. Human milk is easier for babies to digest and offers better nutrition than infant formula. Research shows human milk helps sick and premature babies have better outcomes. Premature babies who receive formula feedings have a higher incidence of acquiring Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gastrointestinal disorder that is life-threatening.
Bronson opened the Bronson Mothers’ Milk Bank in 2006, to collect, screen, process, store and distribute donated human milk. All milk that comes into the milk bank is pasteurized to kill any bacteria and viruses. Bronson has achieved 100% human milk feedings for all premature babies in the NICU and also distributes milk to other hospitals in need.
This fund provides financial support for the following types of activities: education, purchase of equipment and related supplies needed to process and store mother's milk; reimbursement of costs associated with these activities, e.g., research expenses, mileage allowances, etc.; and other costs as agreed upon by the Bronson Health Foundation management team.
Learn more about Bronson's Mothers' Milk Bank
Mothers' Milk Bank Memorial Tree
In 2015 Bronson dedicated the Mothers' Milk Bank Memorial Tree. Funded by the Bronson Health Foundation, the tree, made with clay and ceramic, is a stunning art piece designed and created by Kalamazoo artist Conrad Kaufman with beautiful glass leaves, created by local artist, Larry Galdes, engraved with the names of babies who have passed away. While their moms grieved their own losses, they selflessly donated breast milk so that premature and sick babies whose own mothers were unable to provide milk would receive this valuable gift. Since the original installation, new leaves have been added, and the tree is now full. Fundraising is now underway for the expansion of the tree.
The tree trunk is inscribed with the following; “There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world. This memorial tree honors the precious babies who have died and their mothers who donated breast milk to help other babies live.” 
The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic provides highly specialized care to children and young adults with blood disorders or cancer. This can be a frightening time for children and families and Bronson care teams take extra steps to provide comfort and support. The clinic treats children and young adults with cancer, hemophilia, sickle cell disease and other bleeding disorders.
The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fund supports enhancements to the clinic and the patient experience. This includes but is not limited to programs and activities for patients and families, training and education for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology staff, and new technologies for the clinic.
The Bronson Pharmacy Fund has been created with the purpose of fostering and supporting the comprehensive and high- quality service of Bronson’s Pharmacy throughout the healthcare system. This includes but is not limited to education for staff and new technologies.
Robert S. Doud Arts in Healthcare Fund
Robert S. Doud, retired Vice President for Public Affairs and Development was instrumental throughout his 23-year tenure with Bronson in fostering the arts in the healing environment, including virtually all of the visual arts programming at Bronson.
From the murals in the Children’s Hospital, to the mosaic wall in the North Pavilion, to the two-and three-dimensional pieces on view throughout the facilities Bob was a driving force behind these works.
The Robert S. Doud Arts in Healthcare Fund provides a destination for those wishing to support the arts in their many forms within the hospital and its healing environment.
Robert A. Fabi Neurosciences Fund
The Robert A. Fabi, MD, Bronson Neurosciences Fund, a specific purpose fund at the Bronson Health Foundation, has been created through a gift from his son, Alain Fabi, MD in honor of his father’s significant contribution to the field of neurosurgery in our region and nationally.
The purpose of The Robert A. Fabi, MD, Bronson Neurosciences Fund (Fabi Bronson Neuro Fund) is to foster and support world class neurosciences development and innovation at Bronson for patients in the region. This includes but is not limited to:
- Education for physicians, staff and community
- New technologies
- Neuroscience subspecialty development
- Facilities development
- New models of care delivery
Bronson ALS Clinic
Bronson Neuroscience Center's Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic, located in the medical office pavilion on the south campus of Bronson Methodist Hospital, is a multidisciplinary clinic offering comprehensive care, support and education for patients with ALS and their families. This is the only ALS clinic in southwest Michigan.
About Bronson Neuroscience Center
Bronson is southwest Michigan's preferred hospital for head injury & stroke and for spine & back surgery. It's because our specialists take a new approach: family-focused care that incorporates the latest treatments and procedures.
Safe Kids Greater Kalamazoo County Fund
Safe Kids is a community collaborative program whose primary focus is to reduce death and injury to children in the community for car seat safety, bike safety, and safe sleep by:
- Raising community awareness
- Participating in school and community events
- Providing education programs
- Initiating public policy changes
- Monitoring product safety
- Distributing safety devices
Sexual Assault Services Fund
Trauma and Emergency Services Fund
The purpose of The Bronson Trauma and Emergency Services Fund is to support the comprehensive, high quality care for patients in need of Emergency Medical services. This includes but is not limited to:
- New technologies
- Education for nurses, providers, and other clinicians
- Facilities development
- Innovative models of care including pediatric child life specialists
The Bronson Trauma and Emergency Services Fund was created by an anonymous employee donor to honor those who provide emergency care to patients in southwest Michigan.
The evolution of emergency medicine in southwest Michigan has numerous milestones including the formation of Southwestern Michigan Emergency Services, P.C., the evolution of EMS as first responders, advancements in trauma surgery, establishment of an Emergency Medicine Residency program, and the creation of West Michigan AirCare, to name a few. In 1989, Bronson became verified as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Bronson was the first Level I Trauma Center in southwest Michigan.
Cancer Treatment Endowment
The purpose of the Cancer Treatment Endowment is to promote enhanced services and treatment at Bronson Methodist Hospital for cancer patients, provide equipment which will assist patients or family care providers, provide respite opportunities, support community-based research, and to support staff education and training.
Cancer patients affiliated with Bronson Methodist Hospital have a continuum of care that includes in-patient oncology services, as well as out-patient treatment provided by the West Michigan Cancer Center. Cancer knows no boundaries as to gender, race or age.
The items listed below were purchased for oncology patients and staff with funds raised during the annual Karl Kucab Memorial Golf Tournament.
Bronson is grateful to Dan Kucab and the entire Kucab family for their continued support of Bronson's Oncology patients.
Post-Op Breast Cancer Comfort Bags: Breast cancer patients undergoing a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or excisional biopsy at Bronson now have a little added comfort after surgery. Each patient receives a Bronson Comfort Bag. A former patient helped develop what content should be included. The pink tote includes medical items to support the patient in days following surgery including a pillow, lint roller, candy, a blanket, an apron or belt to hold drain bulbs, a tumbler, a journal with a pen, and lip balm. Patients also receive an inspirational letter from Crissy, a former patient. Each bag costs approximately $30. The program has expanded to include all breast cancer patients at Bronson Methodist Hospital and Bronson Battle Creek. This program benefits 500 patients annually.
“The comfort bags we will provide to our breast cancer surgery patients will give them a few things to help make their recovery easier and we are grateful for the chance to do this.” – Bronson Oncology Nurse Navigator
Christoffersen Family Trauma and Emergency Endowment
35 years ago, Rachel Christoffersen was in a life-threatening automobile accident and received care from Bronson that saved her life. The family has come together to honor their daughter and the Bronson staff by creating the Christoffersen Family Trauma and Emergency Services Endowment. The endowment will allow generous support to projects across the Bronson system.
This support includes but is not limited to:
- New technologies
- Purchase and maintenance of new and existing equipment and/or services
- Education for nurses, physicians and other clinicians
- Facilities development
- Innovative models of care
Learn More Here
Constance Brown Hearing Assistance Endowment
Constance Brown Hearing Centers joined the Bronson Family in January 2023. For more than eighty years, Constance Brown Hearing Centers has helped to improve the quality of life for countless individuals and families throughout southwest Michigan. Community support helps provide services to serve those who face financial burdens in receiving quality hearing healthcare. With the generosity of donors to Bronson Health Foundation's Constance Brown Hearing Assistance Fund, that support can be sustained for decades to come.
Gifts can help in many ways, including:
- Full diagnostic hearing evaluations
- Newborn hearing screenings
- Hearing aid fitting and follow up services
The DeNooyer Family Patient Assistance Endowment
The purpose of The DeNooyer Family Patient Assistance Endowment is to support patients and families facing financial barriers due to medical crises. This fund aims to alleviate some of the burdens associated with healthcare needs,
ensuring that every patient has access to the necessary resources for a safe and smooth recovery. The fund covers a wide range of assistance, including but not limited to:
- Transportation: Ensuring patients can attend their medical appointments and safely return home after hospital stays.
- Medication Support: Helping cover the cost of essential medications that patients may not otherwise be able to afford.
- Medical Equipment: Providing necessary medical devices and equipment to support patient recovery at home.
- Home Health Needs: Assisting with the costs of home health essentials such as oxygen, eyeglasses, dentures, and other critical items for recovery and quality of life.
- Personal Barriers: Addressing other personal challenges that may prevent a safe discharge, impede the recovery process, and reduce the chance of readmission.
By addressing these needs, the Patient Assistance Fund plays a vital role in helping patients focus on healing and wellness without the added stress of financial strain.
Support from this fund is made with recommendations from Bronson's Case Management and Medical Social Work team, Patient Relations, and/or Nurse Navigators.
The DeNooyer family cares deeply about the southwest Michigan community.
Through multiple generations of the DeNooyer family, their goal is to help others and make the greatest possible impact in the lives of Bronson’s patient and families.
Through their spirit of generosity, the Patient Assistance Endowment creates a lasting legacy to provide support when needed most.
DiMarino Healing Through Culture Endowment
This fund was created in 2008 in memory of Alfred (Alfredo) T. DiMarino by his wife, Jean DiMarino. Jean, the daughter of Garret and Arline VanHaaften, and Alfredo have been life-long supporters of Bronson Methodist Hospital. Professor DiMarino was with Gonzaga University from 1974 to 2002 and represented that institution at its Florence, Italy, Campus. He also was associated with Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), from 1981 to 2003 at its Bologna, Italy, Campus.
Jean and Alfredo shared an interest in integrating the arts into Bronson’s healing environment. Proceeds are intended to promote a healing environment for both adult and pediatric patients, families and care givers. In recognition of Alfredo’s deeply held appreciation for classical music and his ability to communicate that appreciation to others, this fund will have a primary interest in utilizing the power of music to enhance the individual experience for patients throughout their continuum of care with Bronson. This fund may also be used to utilize other artistic forms in a similar fashion. Expenditures may include purchasing or commissioning music, musical recordings, performed music, music therapy program, devices to play music and/or purchasing artwork that is intended for patients.
Funds from this endowment are used to support Bronson's Pediatric Music Therapy and Art Therapy programs.
Margaret H. Varney Endowment
Mrs. Margaret H. Varney, a graduate of the Bronson School of Nursing and employee of Bronson Methodist Hospital, bequeathed upon her death in 1997, a generous gift with the intent that the Margaret H. Varney Endowment be established to perpetuate the Bronson Health Foundation.
In addition to the Endowment, the Bronson Health Foundation recognizes Margaret's contribution to the health of our community through the Margaret Varney Legacy Society. The society recognizes individual donors who provide a lasting legacy to advance the mission of Bronson Healthcare at any level.
Margaret H. Varney Scholarship Endowment
In 1998, the Margaret H. Varney Scholarship Endowment Fund was established from the Margaret Varney Endowment to honor Edna Gates Wildermuth and Alton F. and Helen E. Weber. This Endowment Fund was established for the purpose of supporting health education programs in the communities serviced by Bronson Healthcare.
Money from this endowment provided scholarships to Bronson employee attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
A Nursing Scholarship is available for application submission for RN’s in our Bronson Healthcare System. For example, in 2015, we provided five BSN students with $3,000 and three MSN students with $5,000 in scholarships.
To recognize or donate in honor of a nurse, please visit www.bronsonthankanurse.com.
Nattaly Brown Child Life and Expressive Arts Endowment
Nattaly Brown and her family received life-altering news when she was just four-years-old. She had cancer. The Battle Creek family’s new routine included hospital stays and trips to the Bronson Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic. Those visits were made easier thanks to the pediatric specialists, nurses and child life team members who provide physical and emotional comfort along the way. Nattaly passed away at age 7 on Sunday, September 24, 2017 as a courageous, intuitive, sassy, loving, strong, and beautiful little girl. Nattaly’s life was filled with inspiration, hope, bold actions, and above all else a binding love that always left you thankful she was in your life. Click here to read more.
The Nattaly Brown Child Life and Expressive Arts Endowment was created in 2018 with a purpose to support the needs of the Child Life and Expressive Arts programs.
Funding needs for the Child Life and Expressive Arts program include but are not limited to:
- Staffing needs
- Supplies including toys, art supplies, and musical instruments
- Programmatic support including the Journey Beads program
- Staff and patient education
Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They also provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members. Bronson’s program is designed to help children feel a sense of normalcy during a challenging time.
Expressive Arts includes both Art and Music therapy. Art therapy is a way for a child to express his or her feelings through creativity. These activities can lower stress and pain levels to help improve healing and quality of life. Music therapy addresses the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual needs of a child and family.
Pastoral Care Endowment
The Pastoral Care Endowment supports pastoral education at Bronson, pastoral services, pastoral patient assistance and continuing education for regional clergy.
Bronson’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program trains chaplains to be vital members of a multi-disciplinary care team. Chaplains play an important role in healing by helping patients draw on their spirituality. They work with the medical team to ensure spirituality is addressed in the holistic care of patients and families. Bronson is one of few hospitals to have chaplains in the hospital 24/7 where they:
- Respond to all traumas and life-threatening emergencies
- Support interdisciplinary teams, patients and visitors on every unit
- Provide walk-in pastoral counseling for employees
- Connect patients and families with their religious communities
- Provide memorial services, weddings, baptisms, funeral arrangements
- Offer assistance for meals, transportation, prescriptions and community health contacts
Click here to learn more about Bronson's Pastoral Education program
Funds spent from this endowment are used to send chaplains to multiple conferences throughout the year including a Perinatal Bereavement Conference and a Caregiver Conference.
Starbuck Guardianship Endowment
From time to time, patients who receive services from Bronson Methodist Hospital and its affiliates are unable to make informed decisions on their own behalf.
This may arise due to an array of circumstances including but not limited to:
- Surgeries and procedures for which the patient is not capable of providing consent.
- Discharge of patient when there is no one to consent to the discharge.
- Families who are destitute and unable to serve as guardians for their loved ones.
The constant in these situations is the need for guardianship services to ensure that patients receive optimal and timely care. Guardianship provides for the legal authority to make decisions about medical needs and treatment. These guardianship services are increasingly necessary and the need is expected to grow in coming years, particularly as the population matures.
The Starbuck Guardianship Endowment was established in recognition of Mr. Charles E. Starbuck and its purpose is to safeguard guardianship services for those in need.
Steven Michael Hanson Pediatric Specialists Endowment
The Bronson Health Foundation launched the Pediatric Specialists Endowment in 2014 to secure and sustain the future for children’s health in southwest Michigan. The purpose of this endowment is to recruit and sustain pediatric sub-specialists to Bronson Children’s Hospital allowing pediatric patients who need specialized treatment, and their families, to stay close to home while receiving the best possible care right at Bronson.
Steven Michael Hanson was born on July 13, 1983. He served in the Michigan National Guard and went on to earn his MBA. Steven was an avid reader, with a fondness for history. A good writer, he described things with a clarity and attention to detail. This trait also translated to his preference for organization. Steve enjoyed sports, traveling, Comic-Con, movies, theater, video games, motorcycles and was always ready for a new adventure. He loved his family and his dog Jake.
Steven was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. During Steve’s treatment for cancer, he saw children in treatment as well, and that experience made him want to help children who were battling cancer and other illnesses. It was his wish that with his passing, his parents would find a way to help these children.
It is with great love that the Steven Michael Hanson Pediatric Specialists Endowment was created in October of 2019. The support from the Hanson family will go on to support excellent care for children and families in perpetuity.
Make a Gift to a Fund or Endowment
