From left are WCA Foundation board members and staff: Dr. Mark Tuccio, Jim Domagola, Emily Cama, Chip Johnson, Kristin Melville, Stephanie Williams, Jim Pullan, Brian Durniok, Cecil Miller, and Kelly Johnson, Esq.

The WCA Foundation staff and board of directors have presented UPMC Chautauqua with a $723,592 grant.

The money being distributed by the foundation is from spendable earnings of 48 endowments the foundation holds. Money will be spent on patient needs that include the purchase of medical equipment and clinical improvements for cancer care, cardiac care, surgery, emergency room, women’s health and obstetrics, mental health/substance abuse, and scholarship funds for staff development and for students pursuing careers in nursing, radiology and laboratory science.

“The board and staff work all year long to raise funds for specific needs UPMC Chautauqua has identified,” said Kristin Melville, WCA Foundation executive director. “This year, we are particularly focused on raising funds for the mammography department expansion.”

The foundation’s next event is the Souper Bowl Sunday X, a partnership between the foundation, hospital and MediaOne Radio Group for a friendly competition amongst area restaurants. The soup competition takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Celoron Legion 26 Jackson Ave. Tickets may be purchased online at www.wcafoundationjamestown.org; Media One, or at the Celeron Legion. Presale tickets at $10 for adults and $5 for children between the ages of 5 and 12. Children under the age of 5 are admitted free.

“All of the funds that we have historically received from the foundation have added up to millions of dollars which have significantly improved the delivery of care for patients right here in the community where they live,” said Brian Durniok, UPMC Chautauqua market president.

There are dozens of endowment funds at the WCA Foundation. They include endowments for general grants, autoimmune diseases, cancer care, cardiology, chemical dependency support, dialysis, the Emergency Department, maternity, obstetrics and pediatrics, adolescent and adult mental health, the medical library, palliative patient care, scholarships and general education, speech and hearing and foundation operations.

“We are so appreciative of donors who have established endowments at the foundation; donors who have consistently supported our annual campaigns and scholarships, and the dedicated volunteers who personally fundraise throughout the year organizing special events,” Melville said. “When the WCA Foundation gives the annual distribution to UPMC Chautauqua, we all smile because we know it’s coming from the hearts of donors whose generosity have resulted in life-changing medicine in our community. ”

The WCA Foundation is in its 43rd year supporting medical care in Jamestown. The foundation is 501c3 non-profit organization founded by grateful patients whose sole purpose is to advance patient care throughout all departments of UPMC Chautauqua. For more information, visit wcafoundationjamestown.org.