Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital announces a generous matching challenge gift to finish the Building on a Promise campaign. Longtime Maine Coast Hospital supporter and local philanthropist Edith Dixon has offered to match every dollar given to the campaign through September 30, 2024, up to $250,000.                                                                                                

The $5 million Building on a Promise campaign to assist in Maine Coast Hospital’s modernization efforts has raised $4.5 million to date. Should Dixon’s generous matching challenge be realized, it would complete the campaign, according to Northern Light, in a news release.

The Dixon Challenge might sound familiar as the Building the Promise Campaign kicked off with a $1 million matching challenge to encourage community support.

“The Dixon family has been generously supporting Maine Coast Hospital for decades. It’s only fitting that Mrs. Dixon would lead the way in kicking off the campaign, and help to ensure that it is successfully completed as well,” said John Ronan, FACHE, president, Maine Coast Hospital. “We’re so appreciative of this completion challenge that will double every gift made to the campaign and bring it over the finish line.”

While the campaign is still underway, Maine Coast Hospital has already begun extensive modernization efforts with the dollars that have been secured. In January of 2023, Maine Coast opened the Dixon Family Birthing Center, an all-new spacious, family-focused birthing center with modern amenities, proximity to the operating room when emergency C-sections are needed, and a centralized parent and infant monitoring system.

Construction continues on renovations to patient rooms, resulting in mostly private rooms, improving patient and family comfort and privacy. The rooms that have been renovated are being well-received.

“Now, with the upgrade, there is a calm, spacious, refreshing feel,” said Amy Peronto, RN. “There is ample space to work, move about the room, and help patients get out of bed without bumping into furniture. I feel, along with many of my colleagues, that we have a much more positive environment for patients and staff."

To learn more about Maine Coast Hospital’s Building on a Promise Campaign and to make a gift, visit northernlighthealth.org/mainecoastpromise or contact director of philanthropy Sarah Joy at sejoy@nothernlight.org.