St. Michael Medical Center Donates $100,000 to Marvin Williams Recreation Center

(Bremerton, Wash.) – Marvin Williams Recreation Center is excited to announce that St. Michael Medical Center recently donated $100,000 to the organization. The funding, which is part of a ten-year partnership, will support health and wellness programs in the Bremerton community. 

“We are honored to receive a generous gift from our long-time partner, St. Michael Medical Center,” said Dr. Lillian Robertson, executive director of the Marvin Williams Recreation Center and obstetrician-gynecologist. “As an organization, we are committed to developing culturally responsive programming that identifies and addresses the needs and diversity of the local community. This funding will help to further our mission of improving the quality of life for our community, particularly for historically disadvantaged families.” 

The ten-year partnership is an expansion of the hospital’s strong partnership with the Center and the broader Bremerton community. This donation will support a myriad of programs, including community health education programs to address hypertension, diabetes education and chronic disease management. It builds upon the ongoing programs through St. Michael’s Northwest Family Medicine Residency, including presentations to the community on a range of health topics.

“St. Michael Medical Center is deeply invested in caring for all the communities we serve. We know that comprehensive care starts with addressing social determinants of health before hospital-level care is necessary. We look forward to extending our partnership with the Marvin Williams Recreation Center in support of the Bremerton community,” said Chad Melton, president of St. Michael Medical Center.

In addition to community health education programs, the Marvin Williams Recreation Center works to address educational disparities that exist within the community. Through ongoing relationships with local schools, the Center offers a S.T.E.A.M. and Afterschool program which provides homework support, academic tutoring, recreational activities, group mentoring and healthy snacks. 

“As a strong supporter of expanding care access in Bremerton, I’m encouraged to see our local medical community investing in the programs to support community health,” said Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler. “As our community continues to grow, it’s vital that we have the services available to serve all residents.” 

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About Marvin Williams Recreation Center 

Since time immemorial, communities have had a gathering place. That place often resided in a special location, sometimes in the center of a village, often in the shade of an ancient tree. Now the Marvin Williams Center joins that dynasty of community gathering places as it serves the community of West Bremerton and beyond.

The Marvin Williams Center was created to encourage widespread public access and enjoyment. This 20,000 square foot, two story, state of the art facility is designed to foster a sense of community and provide a platform for extraordinary events. Whether it is a kids basketball game, a cooking class or a wedding reception, the Marvin Williams Center provides a beautiful and comfortable setting for all. Learn more at: https://mwcenter.org/

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, offering access to some of the country’s most prestigious experts and hospitals that are internationally known for superior quality. With a team of 18,000 team members, including nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers, we unite the brightest health care minds in the region to provide world-class clinical excellence at 10 hospitals and nearly 300 sites of care throughout the Puget Sound area. We are proud to be the home of Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research. We embrace our community’s uniquely vibrant, active culture by providing holistic, personalized and patient-centered care. We are committed to caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, especially the poor and underserved, providing more than $300 million in community benefit – free, subsidized, and reduced cost health care and programs.  Learn more at www.vmfh.org