Bellingham professionals help bring life-saving cardiac project to life
First Federal Community Foundation provides funding for cardiovascular imaging at PeaceHealth in northwest Washington
The First Federal Community Foundation (FFCF) generously provides funding for community development and affordable housing. They invest in the future of communities served by First Federal. Since it began in January 2015, FFCF has given $2,366,500 in grant awards to qualified organizations in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Whatcom Counties.
Karen McCormick retired from her role as president and chief executive officer with First Federal in 2009, after a career that began behind a teller’s window, then spanned 32 years. She now leads the FFCF as the executive director.
Through her work with FFCF, Karen became acquainted with Troy Wills, vice president and regional manager at First Federal in Bellingham. Troy came to the Whatcom area in 1995 to attend Western Washington University and fell in love with the area. He stayed and it’s where he and his wife make their home with their two boys.
Through the FFCF, Karen and Troy formed a connection with the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation to support projects that bring life-saving and life-enhancing technology, programs and services to improve the health of those in Bellingham and the surrounding area. Most recently FFCF support included a $100,000 gift to PeaceHealth St. Joe’s Foundation in support of their Cardiovascular Center Diagnostic Imaging Campaign.
According to Troy, “The feel-good, do-good component is important to the work of the FFCF” so partnering with the PeaceHealth St. Joe’s Foundation definitely fits the bill. After a tour of the medical center he says, “It was easy to get on board as you see all the processes–how technology is utilized and how the doctors work together to save a life. It gets real, really quickly and it’s very exciting to give to something where such a great number of lives are impacted.”
Karen echoes Troy’s sentiment and shares, “These modifications and upgrades to the Cardiovascular Center’s EP Lab will significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”
Read more about philanthropic gifts to PeaceHealth in the 2018 Impact Report.
