From left are Emily Cama, donor relations specialist at the WCA Foundation; Megan Barone, development director at UPMC Chautauqua; Bethany Anderson, Unit Director Chemical Dependency and WCA Foundation board member; Tammara Hodges, director of imaging services at UPMC Chautauqua; Kristin Melville, executive director of the WCA Foundation; Tracy Gates, president of UPMC Chautauqua; James Pullan, chairman of the WCA Foundation board; James Domagola, treasurer and Finance Committee chairman of the WCA Foundation; Kelly Johnson, vice chair of the WCA Foundation; Chip Johnson, secretary of the WCA Foundation; Stephanie Williams, Director of Quality, Safety, Reg and IP at UPMC Chautauqua and WCA Foundation board member; and Emelia Harley, vice president of patient care services at UPMC Chautauqua.

The WCA Foundation has awarded a grant of $770,441 to UPMC Chautauqua – the largest allocation in the foundation’s 44-year history.

The funding represents the spendable earnings from endowed funds held by the foundation. The WCA Foundation’s mission is to enhance patient care through philanthropic support to UPMC Chautauqua, ensuring the hospital has the resources necessary to deliver expert, timely, and compassionate medical care to all residents of Chautauqua County.

Donors to the foundation have generated grant funding to support the acquisition of medical equipment, expanded cancer and cardiac care services, strengthened mental health and substance use programs, enhanced emergency services, provided scholarships, and promoted healthy beginnings for new parents and newborns. Over the past 44 years, the WCA Foundation has contributed more than $15 million in grant funding to drive innovation and sustain essential medical services. The foundation’s priority in their criteria of giving clearly maintains its mission to support patient care.

Tracy Gates, president of UPMC Chautauqua, expressed her appreciation to the Foundation and its leadership for this significant investment.

“These funds are critical to the health of the community and play a vital role in delivering effective, high-quality care for local patients,” Gates said.

Gates highlighted the key purchases supported by the WCA Foundation 2025 allocation.

– Autoclave, which supports safe, sterile processing of medical instruments to protect patients and staff and maintain the highest standards of infection prevention.

– Handheld Vscan Ultrasound, which provides rapid, bedside imaging that helps clinicians make quicker, more informed decisions at the point of care.

– Endoscopy Anesthesia Equipment, which enhances patient comfort and safety during endoscopic procedures while supporting efficient, high‒quality care.

– Baby Pod, which improves thermal stability and protection for newborns during transport, supporting safer starts for the hospital’s smallest patients. This allows babies to be transported with their mothers from nearby hospitals.

– Paramedic Training Manikins (Respiratory & High‒Acuity Maternity), which strengthens hands‒on training for emergency responders, improving preparedness for critical respiratory emergencies and complex maternity situations.

– Emergency Family Consult Room, a space that provides a private, quiet space where families can receive difficult news, grieve, and ask questions with dignity after the loss of a loved one. This dedicated space helps reduce emotional distress and improve family satisfaction during one of the most difficult moments they will experience.

– The GE Voluson Ultrasound System, which strengthens the hospital’s women’s health services by delivering clearer, more advanced imaging that supports earlier and more confident diagnoses for mothers and babies. This technology enhances quality of care, improves the patient experience, and helps clinicians provide the highest standard of prenatal and gynecologic care for the community.

Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation, expressed her gratitude to the foundation’s board, community donors, and the individuals and families who have established endowments in support of the hospital.

“The generosity, foresight, and commitment of donors have been instrumental in anticipating the evolving health care needs of the community and ensuring UPMC Chautauqua will continue to have the resources necessary to serve patients well into the future,” Melville said.

To create an endowment to honor the memory of a loved one, contact Melville at melvillek@upmc.edu or 716-664-8665. The WCA Foundation is a 501 C (3) nonprofit organization.