NEMHS Charitable Foundation Wins Grant

Thanks to a grant recently received from the Roosevelt County Community Foundation, the Northeast Montana Health Services Charitable Foundation can now fulfill one of its promises to Northeast Montana Health Services this year – to purchase a medical grade lab chair for the Poplar Laboratory.

The $1,078 price tag on the chair may sound pricey, but health facilities are often required to use specifi c equipment in certain medical settings, and that include the chairs used by technicians at both of the NEMHS laboratories.

Brandi Lynn Wilkinson, executive director of the foundation, said that the purchase was important because the chair currently in use was worn out and unstable. She noted that a few years ago the foundation board of directors had approved the purchase of an upgraded chair for the Wolf Point lab and felt they needed to do the same for the Poplar location.

With RCCF’s help, they were able to make that happen this year. Wilkinson commended the Roosevelt County Community Foundation for its support of the community and, in particular, the foundation’s funding requests on behalf of NEMHS.

“This group of local community members are always receptive to our asks and encourage us to apply for their annual grant money allocations,” Wilkinson said. “We appreciate them,” she added. The NEMHS Charitable Foundation was founded in 2006 with the goal of funding needs at NEMHS that can’t be covered by the medical facilities annual budgets.

At the beginning of each year, Wilkinson compiles a list of wants and needs from the heads of various departments at NEMHS and brings it to the board of directors. The board then discusses the urgency and importance of those requests and the foundation’s fundraising capabilities for the year.

Once the requests are decided upon and approved for purchase, Wilkinson and the board then make a plan on how they will raise money to pay for the items.

“That’s when the real work begins,” Wilkinson said. “The board and I have to get out there and ask our local businesses, neighbors, families and friends to help us out.”

Wilkinson said the fundraising consists of events, sponsorships, drawings, grants and simply asking the public to help.

Upcoming fundraisers planned by the NEMHS Charitable Foundation include Buck$ 4 Bras and Pink Drink Month in October and the Festival of Trees in November/December. This year also marks the foundation’s 20th anniversary and to celebrate, the nonprofit has been holding drawings monthly for a variety of prizes worth anywhere from $129 up to $1,040. As an added bonus, all 12 monthly winners become eligible for the grand prize drawing — a trip worth more than $3,200.

“It’s a great final prize and a nice way to give our supporters a little something extra,” Wilkinson said.

Trip choices include the destination locations of Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, or Minneapolis. The prize package includes the flight for two from Billings to the location of choice, two nights motel stay, $250 spending cash and two tickets to a professional sporting event. The winner can choose to attend a 2027 NFL, NBA, NHL, WNBA or MBA game or, if choosing Las Vegas, the 2027 National Finals Rodeo.

To purchase tickets for the monthly drawing, and have a chance at the grand prize trip package, contact board members Marjorie Youpee, Jonathon Thompson, Sandi Mason, Dolly Tattoo, Renee Goodman, Kelli Hackley, Ivy O’Connor, or Tyrell Buckles.

The Northeast Montana Health Services Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit that raises funds to purchase items that improve the care and medical offerings of NEMHS.