INTEGRIS Foundations

A Letter from the Executive Director

January 25, 2012 

INTEGRIS Health friends, 

No doubt you have seen significant media attention centered on the Garth Brooks vs. INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital trial these past several days. There has been much speculation into the details of this gift, many of which have cast INTEGRIS and our philanthropic practices into an unfavorable light. With the trial behind us and in the interest of transparency, we are now at liberty to share those details with those closest to us and the general public. 

We acknowledge that Mr. Brooks made a generous gift, which was an appropriate way to honor his mother in his hometown. We are confident that INTEGRIS not only followed the law throughout this process, but also made every effort to meet Mr. Brooks' expectations. After we received the anonymous, unrestricted donation, we began formative discussions about how to make best use of the gift. We presented ideas and nothing was ever agreed upon. Before an agreement could be reached, Mr. Brooks decided to sue. INTEGRIS worked tirelessly and made numerous attempts to return Mr. Brooks' donation pre-trial, but he could not be satisfied. 

We were disappointed to receive an unfavorable verdict from a jury that was presented solid facts. Regardless of our trial outcome, our mission remains unchanged moving forward. We do not believe it prudent to allow this isolated incident to cast any doubt upon the INTEGRIS name, or the impact philanthropy has on our ability to save lives, provide healing, and treat those who need us most in our communities. We cannot allow a one-sided viewpoint to diminish our donors’ service, gifts or their support. 

We are committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve, which demands that we listen to our people and our communities – and that begins with our donors. We exist to align donor passions with hospital needs and to inspire enduring legacies. 

I encourage you to reach out to us with your concerns. I am available to meet any time and address any lingering questions you may have. Feel free to contact me at my office 405-951-5005 or brad.walker@integrisok.com. 

There is nothing more important than serving as excellent stewards of your gifts. I appreciate the support received by our organization these last several days and look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Sincerely,

In the Spotlight

2012 Circle of Friends Gala

Save the date - April 13, 2012 - for INTEGRIS Health's signature fundraising event, the Circle of Friends Gala. More details coming soon.