FALL RIVER, Mass. — Southcoast Health announced today that Mechanics Cooperative Bank has donated $125,000 to the Campaign for Southcoast Health — a $25 million capital fundraising campaign which is the largest in the not-for-profit healthcare system’s history. In recognition of the gift, Southcoast Health will name the patient waiting area for outpatient cardiac services at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River after Mechanics Cooperative Bank.
“As a native of the South Coast region, I understand the tremendous service Southcoast Health provides for our community,” said Joseph T. Baptista Jr., President and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank. “Local residents will now have the opportunity to receive quality, state-of-the-art treatment at the new cardiac center at Charlton Hospital; close to home, and close to their families. Mechanics Cooperative Bank is proud to support our local community, and our local families, and will continue to support quality community organizations like Southcoast Health.” Mechanics Cooperative Bank has contributed $425,000 to Southcoast Health since 2011.
“As a member of the Southcoast President’s Council, Joe Baptista has significantly supported Southcoast Health through his advocacy efforts and philanthropic giving,” said Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health. “As a not-for-profit healthcare system, we rely on the generosity of so many within our community to support vital programs and services. With Joe’s leadership, Mechanics Cooperative Bank has been a great partner to Southcoast Health and we look forward to working together to improve the health of the South Coast for years to come.”
The Campaign for Southcoast Health is currently raising funds to support major capital initiatives across Southcoast Health’s three acute-care hospitals — St. Luke’s, Charlton Memorial in Fall River and Tobey in Wareham. Currently, over $16 million has been raised out of a $25 million goal.
Southcoast Health’s Cardiovascular Services are nationally recognized for excellence. Healthgrades recently named Southcoast Health one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care — one of just four hospitals in Massachusetts to receive this distinction for six years in a row. Southcoast Health also received 13 additional recognitions for superior cardiovascular services, including Healthgrades’ Cardiac Care Excellence Award for the 11th straight year.
About Southcoast Health: Southcoast Health is a community-based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. Southcoast Health is comprised of four hospitals — Charlton Memorial in Fall River, St. Luke’s in New Bedford, Tobey in Wareham and Southcoast Behavioral Health in Dartmouth — two Centers for Cancer Care, four Urgent Care Centers, a physician’s network, an employed physicians group, a visiting nurse association and numerous additional ambulatory facilities and serves more than 719,000 residents in 33 communities covering over 900 square miles. Southcoast Health is a not-for profit, charitable organization and the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region with more than 600 physicians, hospitalists and mid-level practitioners in the Southcoast Physicians Network — 450 of whom are employed by Southcoast Physicians Group. With more than 7,500 employees, Southcoast Health is the largest employer in Southeastern Mass., and the 16th largest employer in the Commonwealth according to the Boston Business Journal. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast Health through social media on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Southcoast® is a registered trademark of Southcoast Health System.
About Mechanics Cooperative Bank: Mechanics Cooperative Bank was the fifth organization of its kind in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and since 1877 the institution has grown stronger and more successful financially. Two mergers have helped the Bank grow to this level by expanding its existing customer base and branch network footprint from three to eight locations. The first came in 2007 merging with Bridgewater Cooperative Bank, Bridgewater, Mass., and the second came in 2008 merging with Lafayette Federal Savings Bank, Fall River, Mass. Throughout its history of service, Mechanics Cooperative Bank has been instrumental in helping our customers save systematically, achieve enjoyable home ownership and grow their business.
PHOTO CAPTION: (From left) Jason Rua, Chairman of Southcoast Health Board of Trustees; Joseph T. Baptista Jr., President and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank; and Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO of Southcoast Health.
