Estate of Bob Schmidt Will Benefit Healthcare Now and in the Future
At a news conference on Tuesday, the HaysMed Foundation announced that the estate of Bob Schmidt, local businessman and community leader, included a $500,000 gift to the Foundation.
Co-executor of the estate and attorney for Mr. Schmidt, Joe Jeter, spoke on the generosity of Bob and his wife, Pat.
“Throughout their lifetimes, Bob and Pat Schmidt were generous donors to charities, foundations and building projects, not only in Hays but throughout the region,” stated Jeter. “HaysMed played an important role in the lives of Bob and Pat. They both understood the need for a medical center in our region that offered not only primary healthcare but specialty care, particularly in cancer.”
The Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute at HaysMed was named in recognition of significant donations received from the Leo J. and Albina Dreiling Charitable Trust and from the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation. The Bickle/Eagle Health Complex was also named in honor of contributions made by the Schmidts and their close friends, Don and Chris Bickle of Hays.
Schmidt had served on the Hays Medical Center Board of Directors and also the Foundation’s Board. He was serving as a Director Emeritus at the time of his death.
HaysMed President and CEO Eddie Herrman expressed his appreciation for the bequest.
“Through the generous and thoughtful estate planning by Bob and Pat, their bequest will be added to the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Endowment at the HaysMed Foundation,” stated Herrman. “This endowment is permanently invested and the income will provide unrestricted funding for equipment and other special projects at the medical center. Bob and Pat’s legacy of giving will continue in perpetuity to benefit the healthcare needs of our families and friends in western Kansas.”
Powerful Technology Campaign co-chairs Dr. Tom and Debra McDonald announced that nearly $2.8 million had been received in gifts and pledges towards the $3 million goal prior to the gift. The addition of the Schmidt bequest brings the current total to $3.3 million.