Win

ter

2010

We knew the end was near, but Mom kept on living. The nurses said she wasn’t following end-of-life protocol. Instead, we think she was writing her own book. She always wanted to be a writer. Thankfully, we got to live her heartening story to the end.

Sandra Craig, a mom full of life, love, family and friends, was suddenly ravaged with cancer. A pillar of courage, a patient soul—she took us on a journey that brought us together like never before. It ended with a peaceful good-bye thanks to her strength, our love and Ridgeview Hospice.

When we knew Mom couldn’t be cured, we found a facility that provided everything we couldn’t—Ridgeview’s Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home in Chaska.

What Mom endured is unimaginable. But along with the pain, sporadic tears and heartache came many peaceful moments—like the time she said, “Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving me.” That’s when we knew the Hospice Home was built for her. How amazing it was that the Home was completed just three weeks before she arrived.

Even more remarkable were the nurses, aides, and volunteers who welcomed her and kept her comfortable, continually making

adjustments to meet her ever-changing needs. We watched. They were truly gifted. They treated her like she was their own mom. And they brought us relief—managing responsibilities from pain management to personal care. With your support, they can continue helping others as they helped Mom.

Pizza parties, sledding parties, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s Day—through it all we filled that house with joy, laughter and memories. We can’t imagine how Mom’s story would have played out without the Hospice Home. Time and comfort was a gift—to accept, process and watch Mom transition.

The Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home was built entirely on the vision of philanthropists and individual gifts. We’ll never forget the meaning of that—the impact it has on our family. Mom let go without fear thanks to the peace of her surroundings, extraordinary care and love from her family.

Consider a gift to Ridgeview Hospice. We’re living proof of those families that don’t know they’ll need it, but when they do, they’re grateful for it.

Sandra Craig ... Ridgeview Hospice Patient, Mother, Friend

Ridgeview Friends & Family Donors Make a Difference!Ridgeview Friends & Family is Ridgeview Foundation’s largest giving club, with more than 800 employee and community members providing philanthropic support to Ridgeview Medical Center.

In 2010, Ridgeview Friends & Family members supported Ridgeview with more than $70,000 in donations and support for the Scholarship Program, Prayer Shawl Program, a dining room in the Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home and other areas of critical need.

Member benefits include:• Ridgeview Friends & Family “Come Together,” an annual healthy-

living event in March• “Cookies and Cocoa With Santa and Mrs. Claus” in December• Recognition on the Donor Wall in the hospital lobby corridor and

in our Annual Report

We invite you to become a member of Ridgeview Friends & Family by making a gift of $100 or more in support of Ridgeview Foundation. Our donors feel a sense of pride and ownership by helping us bring the next level of health care to the patients and communities we so proudly serve. For more information about Ridgeview Friends & Family, or to request a Ridgeview tour, please contact Kelly Schiffman at (952) 442-2191, ext. 6373, or via e-mail at kelly.schiffman@ridgeviewmedical.org.

Thank you for making a difference!

490 S. Maple Street, Suite 110 • Waconia, MN 55387www.ridgeviewfoundation.org • (952) 442-6010

7th Annual Ridgeview Friends & Family “Come Together”

® 2010 Ridgeview Medical CenterIf you would like to stop receiving Ridgeview Foundation printed material, please submit an e-mail including your name and address to foundation@ridgeviewmedical.org or call (952) 442-6010.

Keep up to date on Ridgeview Foundation news and events by finding us on Facebook!

For more information, visit www.ridgeviewfoundation.org or call Ridgeview Foundation at (952) 442-6010.

The 7th Annual Ridgeview Friends & Family “Come Together,” a healthy-living event promoting health, wellness and safety, will be held Saturday, March 26, 2011. To reach out to the community at large, the Foundation hosts this annual event with generous sponsorship from Safari Island. It is open to the public and includes information and interactive activities from more than 35 Ridgeview and community partners.

Volunteer Opportunities Ridgeview Friends & Family is currently seeking new committee involvement. If you are interested in being a volunteer ambassador for Ridgeview Medical Center, Ridgeview Foundation would love to hear from you. For more information about how you can make a difference, contact Ridgeview Foundation at (952) 442-6010 or via e-mail at foundation@ridgeviewmedical.org.

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Board of Directors

David Adinolfi, Eden Prairie

Jean Buller, Chaska

Dermot Cowley, Watertown

Stacy Desai, Eden Prairie

Laura Flemal, Watertown

Tim Foster, Eden Prairie

Mary Frederick, Excelsior

Michael Gresser, Eden Prairie

Katherine Hackett, MD, Excelsior

Darla Holmgren, Waconia

Brian Mark, Excelsior

Peter Nelson, Waconia

Keith Rachey, Waconia

Linda Roebke, Waconia

Kate Roehl, Chair, Maple Plain

Mark Schiffman, Waconia

Randy Schneewind, Waconia

Charles Spevacek, Shorewood

Mark Steingas, Excelsior

Larry Wilhelm, Excelsior

Ex-Officio

Robert Stevens,

President and CEO,

Ridgeview Medical Center

Doug Stasek,

Vice President,

Ridgeview Foundation

Laurel Hardgrove,

Director,

Ridgeview Foundation

Message From Kate RoehlChair, Ridgeview Foundation Board of Directors (Board member since 2006)

It has been my pleasure to serve as chair of the Ridgeview Foundation Board. What an exciting time to witness advancement at the hospital brought about by philanthropy—the Heart Center, the Birthing Center, the Neonatal Care Unit and our new Hospice Home. Your generous support has helped us bring complex care closer

to home for the patients and families we serve—thank you!

We also would not have finished our “Transforming Lives” Capital Campaign without your amazing support—$33.8 million was gifted and pledged by donors from 671 communities. We are so heartened by your generosity!

I want to introduce you to our next Board chair, Brian Mark. Brian is a respected community leader, a generous donor, a dedicated family man and a visionary leader. His heart is to grow Ridgeview Foundation, and I am delighted he will be at the helm as we go through the important years ahead. Please join me in welcoming Brian Mark …

Message From Brian MarkIncoming Chair of Ridgeview Foundation Board of Directors (Board member since 2006) I am so pleased to be a part of one of the most innovative, forward-looking health care providers in the country. We recently launched fundraising for a new da Vinci® Surgical System at our “Hazeltine Under the Harvest Moon” event. The da Vinci Robot will aid urologists and gynecologists at Ridgeview to provide complex care close to home for our patients.

We are excited for the grand opening in February of Two Twelve Medical Center in Chaska on the northeast corner of Highways 212 and 41. With 24-hour Emergency and Urgent Care, as well as specialty clinics, imaging, rehabilitation therapy, laboratory and pharmacy services, this medical center will offer high-quality care in an accessible, beautiful setting.

I am pleased to serve as the incoming chair of the Ridgeview Foundation Board of Directors. We are so fortunate to have a local hospital and its affiliates that provides world-class medical care to the community. Ridgeview Foundation plays a pivotal role in providing philanthropic support for patient care, facilities and technology that otherwise would not be possible. Thank you for supporting the important work of the Foundation.

2 3T R A N S F O R M I N G L I V E S

Leona GrivelliA life well lived

A caring volunteer puts the final touches on the 1,000th prayer shawl, knowing it will be given to a hospice patient in the coming weeks. Hospice patients take comfort in the warmth and love knitted into each shawl.

This milestone was recently celebrated with a gathering of volunteers, employees and friends at the Marie Steiner Kelting Hospice Home, with a special blessing by Ridgeview Chaplain Bob Haskin. With each shawl taking more than 14 hours to create, we honor the volunteers who make this program possible.

Ridgeview’s Prayer Shawl Program began in 2005 and is sustained by an inspiring group of employees and volunteers who gather to knit and crochet for those in need. The program’s sole purpose is to give away the shawls they create–shawls they hope will literally wrap recipients in prayer. The shawls are given to each hospice patient in Ridgeview’s Hospice Program.

The Prayer Shawl Program is funded through donations from Ridgeview Friends & Family, Ridgeview’s largest giving club and other community partners.

1,000 Prayer Shawls!

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Leona’s circle of friends extends across the globe—and Ridgeview Foundation is proud to be one of them. Leona talked about possibly making a legacy gift to the Ridgeview Foundation and decided to do so after reading an article in the Foundation Focus. Humbled by her recent legacy gift, Doug Stasek, vice president- Ridgeview Foundation, says, “We’re energized by the incredible impact Leona’s legacy will have for generations to come. She represents the heart and soul of Ridgeview.”

Committed to community. Kind. Compassionate. Leona will be remembered for helping ensure the healthy future of Ridgeview and the people it touches everyday.

Leona grew up as an only child on a farm near Young America. Graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in home economics led to a 35-year career in teaching. Leona enjoyed a fun and socially active marriage with Ted Grivelli. Ted was a teacher, band leader and the son of one of the area’s first physicians, who visited patients by horse.

Ted and Leona loved to entertain, water ski around Lake Waconia, fish, follow Minnesota Twins baseball, travel to Europe and share their zest for life together. Even though Ted and Leona had no children of their own, their students were a very close part of their extended family.

Leona was a loyal friend to many, including area organizations she enthusiastically supported for years: the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Carver County Historical Society, the Minnesota Home Economics Association, Orchestra Hall—and Ridgeview Medical Center. She raved about the orthopaedic care she received from Dr. Robert Barnett and the remarkable staff at Ridgeview Hospice.

Leona Grivelli touched the world but appreciated her roots in the west metro where she started her life and celebrated the end of her life. For those who knew her well, they say they’ll miss her spirited nature, generous heart and infamous saying, “It’s my treat!”

What a treat she was to so many. And what a beautiful legacy left behind.

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She traveled thousands of miles, baked an amazing lemon pie and

was adored by everyone she met. Leona Grivelli celebrated 96 years of a life filled with adventure, friends, stewardship and priceless generosity.

“You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give”

—Winston Churchill

Kate Roehl and Brian Mark “test drive” the da Vinci Robot at the Hazeltine event.

Brad and Barb Droege won the “Pick

Your Paradise” raffle.Dr. Jeff Twidwell, Georg and Reidun Gauger at “Hazeltine Under the Harvest Moon.”

Jan Laurel wins her bid during the

live auction!

Leona’s Story

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