St. Mary’s Healthcare in the Fulton and Montgomery region continues to operate as a local, independent community hospital despite ongoing challenges facing similar institutions nationwide. Gilli Hachey, Executive Director of the Foundation of St. Mary’s Healthcare, highlighted the importance of collective commitment from staff, volunteers, donors, and civic leaders in maintaining high-quality healthcare services.
“It’s a collective commitment — among all our staff members, the volunteers, our corporate and individual donors, civic leaders — that’s what allows us to keep this excellent healthcare we have both local and independent,” Hachey said.
Community hospitals across the country are struggling with rising costs, low reimbursement rates, workforce shortages, cybersecurity threats, and declining inpatient volumes. While St. Mary’s faces many of these same issues, strategic investments in programs and workforce development have helped stabilize its operations.
In the past year, fundraising efforts at St. Mary’s reached new heights. The Annual Gala event achieved record attendance and raised $105,000 for urgent care and emergency services—a 94% increase over the previous year. The Annual Golf Classic was sold out and generated more than $65,000 for employee education and training—a 75% increase from last year. Additionally, an end-of-year giving campaign brought in over $67,250 in gifts and pledges—up 33% from the previous year.
“This is about people wanting to make a difference and being supportive on behalf of their families, friends and neighbors,” Hachey said. “It shows me that they see the tremendous importance of having quality healthcare just minutes away.”
Hachey also pointed to growing confidence in St. Mary’s leadership team: “Our leadership team has vision and sound strategic thinking, and that’s becoming more and more evident to people,” she said. “The community’s participation in our fundraising events speaks for itself. Something meaningful is happening here — people want to be a part of it, and their support is essential to the future of St. Mary’s.”
Recognition for St. Mary’s includes being named a 2025 Times Union Top Workplace—the first acute care hospital in the Capital Region to receive this distinction since the program began 14 years ago—and being selected by the Daily Gazette as “Best of the Best” hospital. Its Emergency Department currently reports some of the lowest wait times in the Capital Region compared with state and national averages.
“We are building positive momentum,” Hachey added. “I know we face significant challenges, and the road ahead won’t be easy, but with the dedicated leadership we have, and the strong community support we have, I see a bright future for St. Mary’s.”
Foundation donations at St. Mary’s help fund new equipment for patient comfort; assist patients with pharmaceutical co-pays or transportation; provide support for cancer patients; offer professional development grants; award nursing scholarships; and supply financial assistance for associates facing hardship.
