COVINGTON – As it enters its twenty-first year of channeling the generosity of Northshore residents, the nonprofit St. Tammany Hospital Foundation on Monday reintroduced itself to the community with a new name, new logo and renewed mission statement.
The new St. Tammany Health Foundation will serve as the philanthropic arm of St. Tammany Health System and, as its name suggests, will support programs beyond the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington.
“St. Tammany Hospital Foundation no longer supports just the hospital we stand in today,” foundation Executive Director Nicole Suhre said in a ceremony held midday Monday in the hospital’s lobby. “We support a regional health system comprised of a state-of-the-art hospital and nearly 30 off-site facilities including physician and specialty clinics, a cancer center, two emergency rooms, community services, an academic center, Women’s Pavilion and more. We want our name to convey that our donors can make a difference in the health and well-being of this community.”
The move, which has been a year in the making, also aligns the foundation’s name more directly with that of St. Tammany Health System’s.
Legally known as St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, the health system was widely known by the catchall “St. Tammany Parish Hospital” before its Board of Commissioners adopted its new organizational identity in late 2019, also in recognition of its expansion beyond the hospital campus and into the community.
“World-class healthcare must come with the ability to provide world-class support,” St. Tammany Health System President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “Our foundation is being reimagined to position itself to take an amazing program of support to a true strategic advancement program for our health system, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish in partnership with its generous donors.”
Kevin Gardner, chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, added: “As a long-time donor, I am deeply proud to serve as chairman of the new St. Tammany Health Foundation and to be part of change that I know will have transformational impacts on healthcare in our community.”
The foundation’s renewed focus is articulated in its new mission statement, “to support and enhance the work of St. Tammany Health System as it leads with innovation and cares for its patients and their families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. Through generous donors, we help our neighbors and the community heal and live healthy, fulfilling lives.”
The colors of the new foundation logo, which still features two hands cradling the health system’s trademark embracing hearts logo, has also been updated to incorporate a lime green as a complement to the darker shade of “foundation green” it used previously.
“Green is often used to convey health, growth, sustainability and trust,” Suhre said. “Lighter greens can also convey faith, vitality, renewal, healing and tranquility. We think this tells quite a story.”
The new name, logo and mission will all be put into use immediately.
“I am excited to partner with the generous donors, businesses and grantors in this community in new and expanded ways to make a meaningful impact on healthcare in our region,” Suhre said. “The first 20 years of the foundation were incredible. I can’t wait to see what the next 20 look like.”
Donors who wish to make a contribution to the new St. Tammany Health Foundation may do so at sthfoundation.org.
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About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is nationally recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. The health system is home to 281-bed St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1, three diagnostic centers and 20 medical clinics throughout western St. Tammany Parish. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is AA- rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.
About St. Tammany Health Foundation
We support and enhance the work of St. Tammany Health System as it leads with innovation and cares for its patients and their families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. Through generous donors, we help our neighbors and the community heal and live healthy, fulfilling lives. More at STHfoundation.org.