Waverly banker issues challenge for new hospice

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Waverly banker Birdie Jackson has a challenge: she will match up to $20,000 for every dollar that is contributed toward plans to build a hospice in Buffalo.

“It’s a nice project,” Jackson commented. “It’s certainly needed in our area.” If completed, it will be the first of its kind in the county, as a residential hospice facility.

“Ms. Jackson and the Citizens State Bank of Waverly and Montrose have issued a challenge grant to the communities in that area to help raise funds for the new hospice house of Wright County,” confirmed Laura Jones, executive director of the Community Health Foundation of Wright County.

For every dollar raised in Montrose, Waverly, Howard Lake, and Cokato, Citizens State Bank will match the total amount raised, up to $20,000, Jones confirmed.
“Not only is Ms. Jackson challenging the citizens of those towns to support the hospice house, but she is also issuing a challenge to the other bankers throughout Wright County to make a similar commitment to this wonderful cause,” Jones said.

The future hospice, which will be a residential facility, is the latest project of the health foundation.

Jackson has a two-fold purpose, first to gather financial support, and then to build awareness of the issue and need for a hospice facility such as this, she said.

The family-owned Citizens State Bank of Waverly and Montrose are owned by Kim and Birdie Jackson.  In 2002, the Jacksons bought 50 percent interest of the bank from Dan and Maureen Graham.

The bank continues more than a half-century of family ownership through Birdie Jackson, who is the daughter of the Grahams.

The bank has been owned by the Graham family since 1951, when Dan purchased it from David Toussaint.

Jackson is  also hoping to gather donations via the bank for the hospice project.  Donation boxes will likely be set up soon.
The hospice facility, when built, will overlook Buffalo Lake, and will provide care that focuses on patient comfort and quality of life for individuals and families facing terminal illnesses, Jones noted.
To make this plan a reality, the foundation has launched the “Because We Care” campaign to raise the $1 million needed to construct this special house, Jones noted.
For the past 25 years, the Community Health Foundation has been supporting activities with the mission of improving the health and quality of life for individuals in all Wright County communities.

To learn more about the project, go to www.chfwc.org.