Paul and Andrea Olson and Don and Barbara Olson donate $100,000 to the “Caring for the Community” campaign, in memory of their mother, Ouida (Rue), and their brother, Gene Olson. Even though Paul and Don Olson no longer live in the community, they believe Dawson is a wonderful town to grow up in with wonderful, caring, hard-working people. When they heard about the new Care Center being built in Dawson, they knew they wanted to get involved.
“Our brother Gene lived in the Care Center for 16 years,” said Paul “He loved it, and he loved everybody here. At one point, at least four people from his Dawson graduating class were in the Care Center and Assisted Living.”
The JMHS Foundation’s “Caring for the Community” fundraising campaign was created to ensure the new, $16.5 million, Care Center is built to its greatest potential. The new facility features 56 private rooms with attached private handicapped accessible bathrooms that include a shower. It addresses infrastructure and compliance issues, as well as changing expectations to accommodate future residents.
The JMHS Foundation set an ambitious, $1.4 million, fundraising goal for the campaign. Because of generous donations from the community, they are nearing that goal with pledges and donations just over $1.2 million to date.
Paul Olson stated “I have always believed that you don’t take it with you. The community of Dawson helped us, so we wanted to give something back.”
For more information or to donate, please contact Kristyn Wicht, Marketing and Development Manager at 320-312-2111 or Saundra Snobl, Development Coordinator at 320-312-2123. You can also visit the JMHS website at www.jmhsmn.org/foundation.
