By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Christmas arrived a little early for Advocate BroMenn Medical Center.
The hospital has received a $4 million gift from the estate of Kenneth W. Smith, a longtime resident of Normal who died earlier this year. The gift was a complete surprise to the hospital, which has no previous record of a donation from Smith.
“We could not be any more pleased or proud than we are that he chose to leave such a sizable portion of this estate to our care,” Vice President of Development Scott Ford said.
Ford explained the donation did not come with earmarks.
“Mr. Smith did not director it to a specific use,” said Ford. “So we’re going to use it to continue to provide optimal care for our patients.
“Hospitals today are absorbing Medicare funding reductions, and other cuts from the state and federal governments, and so as a result unrestricted gifts like this from generous civic minded individuals can greatly help us fulfill our mission.”
Smith was a retired Amtrak engineer and farmer who never married and had no children or surviving close relatives.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
