Two Samaritan Foundation hires excited about upcoming fund drive

The two people recently hired to direct the fund-raising efforts of the Samaritan Foundation of Northern New York are ready for the challenge, including a future capital campaign for the hospital, they said.

Both will start on Jan. 2.

Jenna Cleaves, the North Country Children's Clinic director of development, was hired as the new executive director of the foundation. She has worked for the nonprofit children's clinic for 11 years.

She will be joined by David W. Mance, who has been hired on a part-time basis to support the hospital's upcoming capital campaign along with other fund-raising efforts. Mr. Mance, president of Clancy-Mance Communications, in July sold the company's seven north country radio stations to Community Broadcasters LLC.

The foundation is expected to play a major part in fundraising for an expansion of the hospital.

Samaritan officials are studying the possibility of conducting a capital campaign to raise approximately $10 million toward an estimated $30 million to $50 million expansion and renovation project at the Washington Street facility.

Mrs. Cleaves nominated Mr. Mance for the Israel A. Shapiro Award, which he was given last year for his leadership in the community. Mr. Mance and Mrs. Cleaves are both members of the Watertown Sunrise Rotary Club, and Mr. Mance founded the Dodge Pond Summer Camp for Disabled Children, a project supported by the Rotary Club.

"It's a strange twist of fate" but a very positive one that the two Rotary Club members will be working together for the foundation, Mrs. Cleaves said.

They will join two other Samaritan employees who work for the foundation: Jocelyn D. Mejias, director of Children's Miracle Network, and Jennifer E. Heiler, development/marketing associate.

Samaritan will not disclose the salaries of the two new hires, said Krista A. Kittle, Samaritan spokeswoman.

She did confirm that Mr. Mance will resign from both the Samaritan Medical Center and the Samaritan Foundation board of directors to take the paid position with the foundation. He has not yet been given a job title for his new position.

Patricia I. Tague was named interim executive director of the foundation in June, replacing former director Richard A. Brooks. Mr. Brooks became Samaritan Medical Center's vice president of long-term care and support services last January.

Mrs. Tague had also been a member of the Samaritan Medical Center board of directors, but resigned from the board to lead the foundation temporarily, Ms. Kittle said.

Mrs. Cleaves was involved with the $2.2 million capital campaign conducted by the North Country Children's Clinic to move into its new Arsenal Street facility in 2005.

The clinic provides medical, dental and mental health services to children from families of all income levels.

"My work with the children's clinic has been a very satisfying experience," Mrs. Cleaves said. "It helped me develop an appreciation for the importance of a strong health care system for people of all walks of life."

The new position with the Samaritan Foundation "is an exciting opportunity for me in terms of growth," she said. "I admire the administration of the hospital and what the foundation has done. I'm hoping to bring the foundation's fundraising effort to a new level."

Mr. Mance said he expects to be involved with several aspects of the foundation's work, including the capital campaign, along with other special events and fundraising activities conducted throughout the year.

"The hospital is entering a new era," Mr. Mance said. "The renovation project is a project that we will work on now, but it will last our lifetime."