BENNINGTON, Vt. — Mack Molding, the privately-owned business of Don Kendall and his family, has donated $5 million for Southwestern Vermont Health Care's emergency department expansion and renovation project at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. 

 

"The Kendall Emergency Department" will be unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event once the future project is approved by the state and construction is completed. The gift constitutes the largest in the health system's history since Henry W. Putnam Sr. bequeathed the Bennington public water system for the construction of the community hospital more than 100 years ago. 

 

"Mack Molding is pleased and honored to be able to give something back to the people of Bennington County, who have been so good to our company for over 85 years. After all, what could be more important than a modern emergency department?" said Don Kendall.

 

Kendall is the chief executive officer of Mack Group, the parent company of Mack Molding, a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts to companies in a wide range of industries. 

 

"On behalf of the board of trustees, the medical staff, nurses and all of the SVHC family, we are incredibly thankful to Mack Molding, Don Kendall and his family, for this transformational gift," said trustees Chairman Tommy Harmon. "Mack Molding and the Kendall family have a storied history of supporting organizations throughout southern Vermont."

 

This year marks SVHC's 100th anniversary, and many originally constructed buildings and infrastructure of the hospital are still in use today. SVHC is developing a modernization plan to transform its facility into a sustainable, modern health system for the region. Constructed in the 1970s to accommodate 12,000 patients per year, the current emergency department annually treats nearly 25,000. 

 

The health system's board-certified physicians and Magnet-recognized nurses' dedication to delivering the highest quality care has led to national and worldwide recognition for clinical excellence, quality, patient safety and satisfaction, say officials. SVHC accomplishes this mission despite operating out of the oldest hospital facility in Vermont and one of the oldest in New England.

 

"The emergency department is the most important service our health system provides to this region. This tremendous gift from Mack Molding, Don Kendall and his family will have a significant and meaningful impact to the 75,000 patients we serve in our local communities for future generations, and for that we are eternally grateful," said Tom Dee, president and CEO of SVHC.