Cheshire Medical Center exceeds $42 million Capital Campaign goal, continues fundraising as construction progresses

Cheshire Health Foundation has exceeded its $42 million goal for the “Our Community, Our Future” capital campaign, raising more than $42.6 million—the largest fundraising effort in Cheshire’s history. The funds raised will enable Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) to meet patient care needs by expanding surgical services, cancer treatment, and advanced outpatient medicine. Although the campaign goal has been reached, Cheshire has determined it is necessary to continue its fundraising efforts to offset escalating construction costs, which now exceed $52 million.

Cheshire, a member of Dartmouth Health, is committed to caring for every patient who seeks care, regardless of their ability to pay. More than 5,000 patients come to the medical center for care on a weekly basis. Cheshire is seizing this opportunity to modernize its patient care environment, update equipment, and begin the process of expanding service areas to ensure exceptional care remains accessible to our community for generations to come.

Thanks to the tremendously generous participation of our community in the capital campaign, Cheshire is growing in three vitally important patient care areas: cancer care, surgical services, and advanced outpatient medicine.

“We are very grateful for the generous support of our donors for these important patient care needs. At $42.6 million raised, we are asking community members to continue to donate, and to help us raise over $43 million for these critical medical care projects,” said Sandra Phipps, Cheshire Medical Center’s vice president of philanthropy and community relations. “The campaign represents a unique opportunity to build on the foundation of generosity laid by previous generations, while enabling Cheshire to address the current and future care needs of our patients. Every gift makes a difference, and every gift of any amount matters when we all give together.”

Construction is on schedule for the $12 million expansion of the Dartmouth Cancer Center at Cheshire Medical Center, with completion expected later this summer.

“Construction of the new Linear Accelerator Bunker building is nearing completion, and the construction crews are performing fit and finishes and infrastructure turn-up on the Bunker,” said Kevin Forrest, vice president of facilities and support services at Cheshire Medical Center. “In addition, the new Linear Accelerator was delivered on Saturday, July 11, and is now being assembled.”  

The addition of the second linear accelerator means more patients will be able to receive radiation therapy close to home without having to travel farther than necessary for their daily appointments. The medical center anticipates opening the expanded Cancer Center facility   later this summer.

Planning also continues for Cheshire’s surgical services expansion. Hospital leaders recently completed the third design revision for the project, working closely with architects, construction partners and clinical staff to ensure the expansion meets the care needs of Cheshire County’s aging population and budget considerations.

In addition, Cheshire is renovating space at its Court Street Campus to expand gastroenterology clinical services, which should be ready later this summer. The project will allow gastroenterology to relocate clinical spaces, creating additional oncology treatment space within the Cancer Center.

Cheshire is also engaged in updating its master facilities plan to guide future use of the Court Street and Maple Ave campuses.

Community support remains essential as Cheshire completes these projects. Gifts of all amounts are welcomed and needed. To make a campaign gift, or for more information about the strategic funding priorities, please visit cheshiremed.org/cheshire-health-foundation, or call the Philanthropy office at (603) 354-6800.