Supporters Boost Nonprofit Providing Skilled Nursing Care to Medically Fragile Children and Young Adults

Nursingale Board Co-Chair Chris Thomas with emcee Joe Donlon. A client and her family enjoy time on the dance floor.

Lake Oswego, October 3rd, 2015. 150 people gathered at the Oswego Lake County Club to support the work of the nonprofit, Nursingale. It provides in-home, skilled nursing care to medically fragile children and young adults, with an emphasis on keeping families together. Nursingale Board Co-Chair Chris Thomas and emcee Joe Donlon pose for a photo at the event some clients, family members and nurses took to the dance floor. The second annual “Together for Good” event featured Patrick Lamb and his band, and raised nearly $50,000, which will be used to provide more families with the nursing care they need. (Photo credit, Andie Petkus)

Nursingale maintains a balance between the number of clients with Medicaid and private insurance to ensure long-term stability. Nonprofit status allows the organization to sustain operations and special projects with grants from Foundations and donations from service clubs, corporations and many loyal donors.

Founding Board Chair, Chris Thomas’s son Eric had been receiving nursing care at home for more than 20 years. During that time they had worked with many different home-nursing agencies, some of which had closed. Frustrated, because she wanted her son cared for not only the right way, but for the right reasons, in 2005 Chris decided to support the formation of the only non-profit organization in Oregon providing in-home nursing care to medically fragile children.

Here’s a video about the program:

From Nursingale:

Vision
Our vision is to be the leader in providing expert home nursing care and comfort for the medically fragile and their families.

Values
Nursingale, as a non-profit, embraces a set of core values:

• Integrity and respect guide all of our actions.

• Teamwork and a positive work experience support high-value client care and staff satisfaction.

• Partnerships within our community maximize our services.

• Commitment to keeping families together is a driving force in all that we do.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.