Founded in 1989, the Fairmont Community Hospital (FCH) Foundation was established with a clear and enduring mission: to enhance health care in our community through charitable support of our locally-owned medical center. Guided by a community-based Board of Directors, our priorities are shaped by the voices and needs of local residents.

Over the decades, the FCH Foundation has proudly funded projects and initiatives that directly impact the well-being of both patients and healthcare providers in our area. From large-scale improvements to smaller but vital enhancements, our work has always been rooted in serving the local need.

When the Fairmont Medical Center was acquired by Mayo Clinic Health System in 2001, the FCH Foundation’s role expanded significantly. As part of the agreement, we were entrusted with the responsibility of representing the community’s interests in the hospital and its operations. This critical role ensures our voice remains central in maintaining accessible, quality healthcare services in Fairmont.

Today, we remain steadfast in our mission to support and enhance local healthcare. The recent announcement by Mayo Clinic Health System to close the OB and Surgery departments at MCHS-Fairmont has sparked serious concern throughout our community. These services are essential, and their loss presents a major challenge to healthcare access for area residents.

In response, the FCH Foundation is taking action. We are engaging expert consultants to explore all options and identify sustainable solutions to preserve and expand healthcare services locally. Our commitment is unwavering: we will continue to advocate for, support, and invest in healthcare solutions that keep care close to home.

Although MCHS-Fairmont has historically been the sole recipient of Foundation funding, we are a completely independent organization—not part of the Mayo Clinic Health System or Mayo Foundation. In 2011, we took key steps to ensure that every dollar raised by the Foundation stays right here in our community.

In light of recent changes by Mayo Clinic Health System, the FCH Foundation has expanded its mission to support all nonprofit 501(c)(3) healthcare organizations within our service area. This broader focus reflects our commitment to addressing the growing and diverse healthcare needs of our community. Alongside this shift, we are also updated our dissolution policy to ensure that—should the Foundation ever dissolve—all remaining funds will stay under local control and be directed by our Board with approval from the Attorney General.

As we adapt and grow to meet new challenges, we remain fully committed to promoting health and wellness for all residents of Martin County and the surrounding area. Together, we can protect and strengthen the future of local healthcare.