Dear Friends, 

You have likely seen media coverage of Banner Health’s announcement regarding the impending closure of the McKee Medical Center Emergency Department and the transition of McKee Medical Center into a specialty hospital focused on cancer care and surgery. I want to take a moment to share McKee Wellness Foundation’s history and relationship with the hospital, and to clarify our mission and focus in northern Colorado. 

Since our founding in 1981 as the McKee Medical Center Foundation, our organization has always been a way for the community to come together to support our neighbors’ health and wellness. Over the years, as the community’s needs changed, we expanded our focus beyond the hospital walls. In 2018 we became the McKee Wellness Foundation, and in 2021 we took an important step by formally separating from Banner McKee Medical Center and becoming a fully independent public charity. 

Today, we carry forward that proud legacy of community support by bridging gaps in health and wellness across all of northern Colorado. From helping patients facing financial hardship due to a medical crisis, to supporting veterans, to placing lifesaving AEDs in the community and funding wellness programs, our mission is clear: to reach our neighbors in greatest need throughout northern Colorado. 

We are grateful for the collaborative relationships we have with many regional healthcare organizations and community partners. In this new season, our role is to collaborate broadly and continue to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Work is already underway to strengthen how we communicate the profound impact that you make as our donors and community partners. 

Thanks to your support, the work of the McKee Wellness Foundation continues, independent of the changes happening in Banner’s hospital operations. Together, we are building a healthier, more connected northern Colorado. 

Sincerely yours, 
Nate Lamkin
Executive Director