Our History
About
Community impact through the decades
With your support, we have received more than $15 million in charitable gifts since our founding in 1977. You, along with your neighbors and friends, have made a positive impact on the health of our Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix communities. Please join us in this walk down memory lane!
1977
Articles of Incorporation are signed
- Articles of Incorporation are signed
1987
Lights for Life launched in Ashland
- Lights for Life, the foundation’s holiday giving program, is launched in Ashland
1990
Patrons Campaign launched
- Patrons Campaign launched to support hospital equipment and facility upgrades
1991
Chuck Butler and Beth Bornet
- First Hospital Gala is held and the first Distinguished Service Award is given to Beth Bornet at the event
- Bill and Florence Schneider donate land for senior living facility, currently Maple Ridge Senior Living
1994
49 Talent Avenue, Talent Oregon
- Foundation establishes a medical office clinic in Talent, Oregon
1995
Articles of Incorporation amended
- Articles of Incorporation are amended to allow ACHF to support community health and wellness initiatives in the geographic area served by Ashland’s hospital
1996
Pharmacy groundbreaking
- Foundation brings pharmacy to Talent, Oregon
- Lights for Life expands to Talent, Oregon
1999
Rodden Scholarship established for surgical nurses
- William S. Rodden, MD, establishes the Rodden Scholarship Fund for surgical nurses to further their education
2001
Ruth Evans donation established William G. & Ruth T. Evans Nursing Scholarship
- Ruth Evans donation establishes the William G. & Ruth T. Evans Nursing Scholarship to support registered nursing students enrolled at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Ashland Campus, and Rogue Community College (RCC)
2002
Cora Nixon
- Cora Nixon Endowment is created to benefit Lights for Life
- The first Evans Nursing Scholarships are awarded totaling $6,000 to three local students
2003
628 N. Main Street, Ashland, Oregon
- Foundation acquires medical office space at 628 N. Main Street in Ashland, and also establishes the 595 N. Main Street medical office building
2007
Stephanie Roland, Associate Director
- Associate Director Stephanie Roland is hired
- The final Gala is held celebrating the hospital’s 100 year anniversary
2009
Janet Troy, Executive Director
- Janet Troy is hired as Executive Director
2010
Ruth Evans and 2010 Scholarship Recipients
- William G. & Ruth T. Evans Nursing Scholarship becomes formally endowed
2011
Kathleen Mackris, Philanthropy Director
- Philanthropy Director Kathleen Mackris is hired
- ACHF launches first official Employee Campaign at Ashland Community Hospital
2013
Aerial photo of Ashland’s hospital
- Ruth Evans leaves bequest in excess of $2.5 million to the foundation
- Ashland Community Hospital merges with the Asante Health System. Ashland Community Health Foundation remains independent and donates real estate holdings to help finalize the merger
2015
RCC Table Rock Campus
- William G. & Ruth T. Evans Nursing Scholarship program expands to include the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Rogue Community College
2016
Chapel at Ashland’s hospital
- The Family Birth Center is renovated (funded by donations to ACHF in partnership with Asante) at Asante Ashland Community Hospital
- Doors open to a long awaited Chapel at Asante Ashland Community Hospital funded by community contributions to ACHF
2017
ACHF celebrates 40th anniversary
- ACHF celebrates 40th anniversary
- Celebration of the Emergency Department staff break room funded by the generosity of Bob Holbrook
- ACHF celebrates 30 years of Lights for Life
2018
Dedication of Evans Family Comfort Room at Ashland’s hospital
- Creation of the Innovation Fund
- The Evans Family Comfort Room (funded by donations to ACHF) is dedicated at Asante Ashland Community Hospital
- Celebration of the Medical/Surgical Department staff break room funded by the generosity of Bob Holbrook
2019
Bob Holbrook and Margie Lininger at Lab staff break room dedication
- ACHF hosts Innovation Symposium for community leaders, stakeholders, and Asante employees
- ACHF secures grant funding to support the expansion of the School Nurse Program of Asante Ashland Community Hospital to all K-12 Schools in Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix
- Celebration of the Lab Department staff break room funded by the generosity of Bob Holbrook
2020
Foundation staff at new office
- Asante discontinues support of staffing and office space for ACH Foundation
- Foundation relocates office to 123 Clear Creek Drive, Suite 101, in Ashland, Oregon
- Conference room at Asante Ashland Community Hospital is renovated thanks to a generous estate gift to ACHF from Barb and Sid Field
2021
Distinguished Service Award wall
- Board of directors embarks on comprehensive strategic plan to guide our work through 2024 as we reimagine our future as a community focused foundation
- Thanks to a generous gift to ACHF from Bob Holbrook, the cafeteria at Asante Ashland Community Hospital is transformed and renamed the Bob Holbrook Café
- William G. & Ruth T. Evans Nursing Scholarship awards record-setting scholarships of $169,683 for local nursing students
- The Distinguished Service Award wall is relocated to its new home at the foundation office
2022
Exciting Growth in 2022
- Launch of our new community grant process
- Introduce the new ACHF look and name
- Community Engagement Coordinator, Nicole Gutrich, is hired
2023
Allied Health Endowment
- The Allied Health Endowment was established with a gift from an anonymous donor.
2023
Butler Endowment
- The Chuck Butler Memorial Aquatics Endowment was established by Jeff and Alexi McCullough.
2023
Kitchell Endowment
- The Dave Kitchell Endowment was established by the Kitchell Family.
2023
Janet Troy Retires
- Executive Director, Janet Troy, retires
2024
Stephanie Roland, Executive Director
- Stephanie Roland becomes Executive Director
2024
Boone Kizer
- Boone Kizer joins the ACHF staff in August as Donor Relations Manager
