Luncheon Raises Nearly $163,000 for Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center CS

TUALATIN, ORE. -- More than 200 community members gathered at the Tualatin Country Club on May 25 to honor the employees of Columbia Helicopters and support Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center's Patient Care Expansion project. 

The Pillars of Excellence Luncheon, hosted by the Meridian Park Medical Foundation, raised nearly $163,000 for a new multi-story building on the Legacy Meridian Park campus. The foundation has raised nearly $7 million, surpassing their $6.5 million campaign goal, for this innovative facility that will provide a more family-centered care environment, capable of accommodating additional patients and state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technology. 

During the luncheon, the employees of Columbia Helicopters received the 2017 Pillars of Excellence Award, which recognizes community partners who have made a positive impact on both Legacy Meridian Park and the local community. For 20 years, Columbia Helicopters' employees have honored their founder and cancer survivor, Wes Lematta, who passed away in 2009, by raising funds for the Wes Lematta Cancer Fund at Legacy Meridian Park. Through their annual employee giving campaign, they have contributed $215,000 to help comfort and educate patients undergoing cancer treatment. 

Founded in 1957, Columbia Helicopters is a locally-owned, heavy-lift helicopter operation. As the industry's global leader in twin-engine, tandem rotor aircraft, its crews are experts in some of the most challenging heavy-lift missions, from heli-logging to firefighting. "Our community partners are vital to our success," said Allyson Anderson, president of Legacy Meridian Park. "The wonderful people at Columbia Helicopters continue to have a tremendous influence on our community with their tradition of supporting our patients, military families, environmental causes and disaster relief." 

Legacy Meridian Park -- a full-service, nonprofit hospital -- is the South Metro area's most advanced medical center. Specialty services include neurology, orthopedic surgery, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, cancer care, a nationally recognized stroke program, a nationally accredited breast health center and a chest pain center awarded the nation's first Gold Seal of approval in chest pain by The Joint Commission -- the nation's principal hospital accreditation agency. 

Meridian Park Medical Foundation raises funds to support the programs and services at Legacy Meridian Park. To learn more about supporting Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, call the Legacy Health Office of Philanthropy at 503-415-4700 or visit www.legacyhealth.org/giving.