October 10, 2018
Fredericksburg, VA (October 10, 2018) – Mary Washington Hospital Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce
a gift of $5 million by its Chairman Joe Wilson and his wife, Mary Wilson,
to establish an endowment to support the Mary Washington Hospital Community
Benefit Fund (the Fund). This generous gift represents the largest publicly
reported single cash donation by a local family to Mary Washington Hospital
Foundation and among the largest received by any area charity. With
the Wilson’s
gift, the Fund will total $20 million.
“Mary and I are blessed to be able to provide this gift,” said
Mr. Wilson. In recognition of
the Wilson’s
substantial donation and generous philanthropic legacy with the Foundation
and Mary Washington Healthcare, the Fund is being renamed the
Joe and Mary Wilson Community Benefit Fund of
Mary Washington Hospital Foundation.
“We are very thankful for Mr. and Mrs. Wilson’s commitment
to Mary Washington Hospital and the Foundation. Their gift will benefit
the great work of hundreds of local organizations that significantly impact
the health status of tens of thousands area residents,” said Xavier
R. Richardson, President of Mary Washington Hospital Foundation. “The
gift truly represents their philanthropic philosophy of assistance to
underserved persons in our community. The renaming of the Fund after the
Wilsons is one of the most appropriate and long-lasting ways to pay tribute
to the legacy and leadership of Joe and Mary Wilson.”
Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson made many significant donations to
the Foundation. They generously supported the Foundation’s past
campaigns for the benefit of the Fund, the Moss Free Clinic, and the Mary
Washington Healthcare Regional Cancer Center. The Wilsons also supported
numerous Foundation fundraisers such as the Fredericksburg Polo Classic,
Roastin’ at the Rivah Oyster Roast, Fredericksburg Brewhaha, and
the Mary Washington Healthcare Regional Cancer Center’s Power of
Pink Breast Cancer Walk. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are leaders in healthcare
philanthropy and embody the mission to improve the health of those who
live in our community.
Joe Wilson, CEO of PermaTreat Pest Control, played a major role in the
development and leadership of the Fund since its inception in 1993. As
chair of the Mary Washington Hospital Board of Directors at that time,
he was instrumental in the formation of the Fund which was created to
provide financial resources to local nonprofits that support the organization’s
mission; contain and/or reduce the cost of
healthcare
in the local communities; and improved access to quality medical care
for the poor and medically underserved populations. Mr. Wilson later served
as the chair of the Fund Grants Selection Committee.
Since its founding, the Fund provided 543 grants to 112 different community
agencies totaling over $15 million from the income of the Fund. In addition,
the Fund provided $3.5 million to establish the Stafford Hospital Community
Benefit Fund in 2008 which has awarded 70 grants to 12 different agencies
totaling over $1.4 million.
Mr. Wilson demonstrates a moral obligation to financially support the local
community that has supported the success of his business ventures. In
addition to providing financial support to the Foundation, the Wilsons
generously supported numerous organizations across the state. Last month,
Virginia Tech was the recipient of a $1 million gift from Joe and Mary
Wilson for the establishment of an endowment to support urban entomology
research. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson established a
donor advised
fund at The Community Foundation and support the Fredericksburg SPCA,
Fredericksburg Academy, and the Rappahannock United Way.
To learn more about the Joe and Mary Wilson Community Benefit Fund of Mary
Washington Hospital Foundation, Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, or
how to donate, visit
www.mwhc.com and select “Donate Now.”
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Mary Washington Hospital Foundation was founded in 1988 as the fundraising vehicle for Mary Washington Hospital.
The purpose of the Foundation is to generate philanthropic interest in
Mary Washington Hospital, cultivate donor relationships, seek grants,
and act as a
grant maker
to provide financial support for community health-related initiatives.
Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient
and outpatient care through over 40 facilities and services, including
Mary Washington Hospital, a 451-bed regional medical center, and Stafford
Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is
a nonprofit health system and has a long-standing commitment to
provide
care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services
and facilities, please visit
www.mwhc.com.