For the City-Times

Alicia Wojtalewicz, OB/GYN, Ministry Medical Group completed training to become a Certified Lactation Counselor, a lactation professional who assists mothers with breast feeding related questions or concerns. Alicia was able to attend a lactation training class thanks to a grant she received from the Roberta Swift Memorial Fund at Saint Michael’s Foundation.

“I simply could not have received my lactation counseling certification without the Robert Swift Grant,” shared Alicia. “This is a gift that will keep on giving as I look forward to sharing my knowledge with countless new moms during all stages of breastfeeding, before, during and after.”

The Roberta Swift Memorial Fund was established following her December 2012 death by her husband, Harlan, and children, Matthew Swift and Erin Smith to honor Roberta’s passion for education and training.  Roberta was Ministry’s Vice President of Mission and Culture and worked for Ministry Health Care for over 25 years.

“This gift to Saint Michael’s Foundation is about Roberta and the people of Ministry Health Care for whom she cared a great deal,” said Harlan. “We, as a family, cherish the opportunity to honor Roberta by creating a legacy that will benefit both the people of Ministry Health Care and the people they serve.”

Saint Michael’s Foundation announced the first three grant recipients of the Roberta Swift Memorial Education Fund in May of 2013.  Applications were received from all locations and departments within Ministry Health Care.

The fund provides grants to enable Ministry Health Care associates to attend or participate in educational opportunities that enhance the employee’s ability to train, teach or develop colleagues and/or develop a specific Ministry Health Care patient or customer population.

To be eligible to apply, associates must be currently employed by Ministry Health Care on a part-time or full-time basis, and document their plan on how they will be able to train, teach or develop colleagues, patients or customers following their specified training.

Funding applications are accepted now through February 28. All applications will be reviewed by a sub-committee and notified of their funding status by April 1 each year.

Contributions to the fund are also welcomed from those within or outside of Ministry Health Care. For more information, please contact the Saint Michael’s Foundation office in Stevens Point at 715.343.3259.

About Saint Michael’s Foundation

Celebrating 25 years of caring for our community, Saint Michael’s Foundation raises funds for programs and services geared to enhance the quality of health care services for patients and families served by Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital and Ministry Medical Group. Funds are used to establish new programs and initiatives, purchase clinical equipment and provide health-related educational support.

About Ministry Health Care

Ministry Health Care, which includes the recently acquired Affinity Health System, is an integrated health care delivery system serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Ministry operations generate more than $2.2 billion in annual operating revenue with 15 hospitals, 46 clinics and nearly 12,000 employees. More than 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide personalized care at Ministry primary and specialty care clinic locations. Home health care, hospice and long-term care services are also provided across the region.

Ministry was founded by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother more than 120 years ago to further the healing ministry of Jesus by continually improving the health and well-being of all people, especially the poor. Ministry is ranked among the top 20 percent of health care systems in the country by Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters.