Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society continues to fill in the gaps in health care
A community came together and persevered when the wives of doctors and civic leaders joined to form the Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society in 1907.
More than 100 years later, in an era marked by the demise of such organizations in communities large and small, the group’s leaders came together again five days before Christmas to make good — two years early — on a $250,000 pledge to the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation.
The organization that counts 148 members sponsors a variety of fundraisers. They range from large annual events that feature high-dollar raffle items to smaller sales that bring in the bucks one candy bar, one purse, one candle at a time.
Dr. Thomas Gessner, chairman of the Latrobe Area Hospital Foundation, said the Society’s gifts totaling nearly $1.6 million since 1991 have been a godsend.
“There is always a gap between what is paid for in health care and what it costs. They work to fill in the gap,” Gessner said.
Two prior gifts of $250,000 each went to help underwrite the renovation of the emergency department at Excela Latrobe Hospital and the construction of a patient services center there.
This year’s $250,000 pledge went to support the completion of the hub of the family medicine residency program on the third floor at Excela Square Latrobe.
The society also hosts an annual reception for the residents and their families every year at Latrobe Country Club to welcome them to the community.
Their hospitality toward young physicians — many who have come from urban medical schools — to the small community at the foot of the Chestnut Ridge has paid rich dividends.
Gessner said more than 60 physicians who trained in the program over the years have chosen to remain in the area.
Susannah Calvo, the Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society’s past president, has been a member of the organization since 1990. She still marvels at the commitment of the community.
“It’s just a lot of people doing a lot of things,” she said.
Nancy McKinnon, who became society president in April, said the group profits from the generosity of the region where figures such as Arnold Palmer and Fred Rogers helped set a high bar for community involvement.
The society also sponsors various events to support the community, including a scholarship fund for high school students who have volunteered more than 150 hours at the hospital; and a children’s health fair that takes health education out to third-graders in Latrobe, Derry Area and Ligonier schools every year.
“We’ll be holding our 37th annual children’s health fair in May,” she said.
Deb Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Deb at derdley@triblive.com.
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