A small community hospital and a local couple have a unique proposition for the residents of Whidbey Island in Washington state: Vote to approve Whidbey General Hospital's request for a $50 million bond levy for the construction of a new inpatient wing, and Bob and June Sebo will donate $900,000 or their own money to spruce up the hospital's surgery center.
"If voters are willing to step up by approving the levy request for the new inpatient wing, then my wife and I are willing to ensure that the surgery enter is transformed to achieve the same standards of excellence set by the new inpatient wing," explains Mr. Sebo, a local businessman, in a press release from the hospital.
Although the offer comes from the Sebos, who own a grocery store on Whidbey Island and several hardware stores in the area, hospital officials are promoting it as they campaign for votes ahead of the May 17 election that will determine the fate of the funding request. A 60% supermajority is needed to pass the $50 million request.
"We are humbled by [the Sebos'] generosity and their belief in Whidbey General Hospital's commitment to become one of those extraordinary small community hospitals that rises to the challenge of meeting their community's expectations for modern, high quality care," says Whidbey General Hospital CEO Tom Tomasino in the release. "We can only hope the voting taxpayers share the Sebos' vision when they go to the polls May 17."
The Sebos' donation would go toward $620,000 in new equipment for orthopedic, ophthalmology, urology and other outpatient surgical procedures, plus $280,000 to renovate the surgery center with upgraded surgical lighting and new procedure rooms to augment the existing 4 ORs.
Meanwhile, a volunteer group, the Friends of Whidbey Hospital, is taking more traditional approaches to drum up votes for the bond, such as making signs, writing letters to the editor and reaching out to the public at intersections and grocery stores.
What do you think of the Sebos' offer and the hospital's campaign for funding? Tell us in the comments below.
Irene Tsikitas
