PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Construction at a central South Dakota hospital’s new $30 million medical facility is on schedule in time for a public open house in September.
Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre plans to host the open house on Sept. 30.
Avera St. Mary’s Foundation Director Kellie Yackley told the Capital Journal that there aren’t any delays and clinics are due to open sometime in October. Fundraising is also in the final stages.
The new building will house a $12 million cancer treatment facility, named the Helmsley Center. The Helmsley Charitable Trust has provided $7.5 million for it, and has pledged $2.5 million in matching funds if the Avera St. Mary’s Foundation raises its own $2.5 million. The charitable trust was established by the late hotel and real estate baroness Leona Helmsley.
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The foundation will need to raise $30,000 more by Aug. 1 to hit the target, Yackley said. Avera’s next milestone will be to fundraise another $150,000 in cash between August and February, according to Yackley.
Avera’s gala this year brought in nearly $90,000 toward the challenge matching grant. Much of the fundraising activity has come from other organizations hosting events to benefit the Helmsley Center, such as a golf tournament that raised about $7,000, said Yackley.
The Red Willow Band will be performing at a fundraiser for the center at the Pat Duffy Community Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre on July 25.
The Helmsley Center is being built between Avera St. Mary’s Hospital and Avera Medical Group buildings. Construction began last summer.
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Information from: Pierre Capital Journal, http://www.capjournal.com