An eight-figure gift — the largest philanthropic gift ever received in the history of HealthPartners — is helping seed a $150 million fundraising campaign for the new Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater.
The gift was announced Tuesday to coincide with the public launch of “Growing for Good,” a fundraising campaign led by Health Partners and Lakeview Health Foundation.
HealthPartners officials said that they are withholding the name of the donor and the exact amount of the gift per the donor’s request.
“Transformational gifts like this — and support from new and legacy donors alike — help us move beyond replacing a hospital and toward creating a regional healthcare hub designed for the future,” Andrea Walsh, HealthPartners President and CEO, said in a statement.
The gift “will help our teams deliver exceptional care and an outstanding experience for patients and families for generations,” she said.
More than $95 million has already been raised in the campaign, officials said Tuesday. That includes a $1 million gift from Helene Houle and her family; Houle is the honorary chair of the campaign.
Houle, who grew up on a farm in Somerset, Wis., said she is continuing the legacy she shared with her late husband, St. Paul business executive and philanthropist John Nasseff, including support for a new Lakeview EMS ambulance.
“This project is about making sure families can continue to receive the quality care they deserve, close to home,” Houle said. “John and I always believed in supporting the communities that shaped us. I’m honored to continue that legacy and help bring this new hospital to life.”
The new hospital, located at the northeast corner of Minnesota 36 and Manning Avenue, will include a conference room named in honor of Houle’s parents, Ray and Laura Houle. Scheduled to open in 2028, it will include emergency medicine, advanced critical care and specialized centers for heart, cancer and orthopedic care.