Campbell Foundation gives $500,000 to Wai'anae health center

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAI'ANAE — A fund-raising drive to build a family medical center at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center got a big boost yesterday with a $500,000 donation from the James & Abigail Campbell Foundation.

•	To assist with the Wai'anae health center's fund-raising drive, call 696-1457, or check the center's Web site at www.wcchc.com

"We're about a quarter of the way there," said Richard Bettini, the center's executive director, about the center's goal of $3.19 million. "By this June we hope to be at the halfway point."

The donation will help build a pediatric floor for the planned two-story family medical center, with another floor providing primary care.

The pediatric floor will be named after James and Abigail Campbell, Bettini said.

The health center, at 86-260 Farrington Highway, treats about 30,000 patients each year, 7,000 of them children. It has the only 24-hour emergency room on the Leeward Coast past 'Ewa.

James Shingle, Campbell Foundation president and grandson of James and Abigail Campbell, said they made the donation because of the large Hawaiian population on the Leeward Coast.

Bettini said the new facility will also give the center more space for its medical records section.

Makaha resident Tammy Tagudin was one of those who received a Thanksgiving dinner, but she said she was more ecstatic about the money for the center.

"Thank goodness we have a health center in Wai'anae because it's a long walk or bus ride to the next nearest clinic in Nanakuli," said the 37-year-old Tagudin, who has eight children.

Bettini said the health center has set up various fund-raising phases over the next year.

The center's board and employees have already raised nearly $135,000, and another fund-raising drive that began this month will seek donations from area residents. Another major drive will start next month.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at 535-2429 or sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com