Public encouraged to contribute to Intermountain Health philanthropic campaign

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Intermountain Healthcare launched a public campaign on Thursday in an effort to enhance the health and well-being of children.

The “Primary Promise” campaign is the largest and most ambitious philanthropic initiative ever launched by the organization, according to Katy Welkie, chief executive officer of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health.

Since 2020, $464 million has been raised, still shy of the $600 million goal. Now, Intermountain Healthcare is asking the public to contribute to the campaign — even as little as $1.

“We are seeing more and more patients every day and their needs are growing,” Welkie said. “Without question, this is the most significant investment in the health and wellness of children across Utah and the Intermountain West in our generation.”

The Primary Promise will create more care for the increasingly complex emotional and physical needs of children in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Idaho and Nevada.

Steve Lund, co-founder and executive board chair of Nu Skin Enterprises, said his son was a patient at Primary Children’s Medical Center and benefited greatly from the care he received. Even though his son lost his battle to cancer, Lund said his health care team was able to give him three years of additional life.

“To hear, ‘Your son is sick and the outcomes are unsure,’ that was the worst day of our lives. Three years later, we lost our son Tanner, but the fact is we came here to find hope and we got three years because of the blood, sweat and tears of the people here who devote themselves to strangers who are having the worst day of their lives,” Lund said. “We could walk a couple hundred feet from here right now and find someone having the worst day of their lives, but there are more great outcomes than harder outcomes. This place is sacred ground and it’s remarkable.”

Business and civic leader Gail Miller said she is impressed with the comprehensive plan — which includes strengthening Primary Children’s Hospital with the additions of the advanced Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center, a Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit, an expanded cancer treatment center and heightened research activities in partnership with University of Utah Health.

Pediatric care will also be extended across the Intermountain West to bring expert care closer to home. That effort includes the construction of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus, a 66-bed Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, and an expanded pediatric care network utilizing in-person and telehealth services.

And finally, emerging children’s health needs will be addressed through expanded mental and behavioral health services, teen-to-adult transition programs for children with chronic illnesses and an expanded Healthy Kids program focused on helping children stay safe and healthy in their communities.

To donate and learn more about the campaign, go to http://primarypromise.org.