At a kickoff event on Wednesday, Centre Care officially launched a $6 million fundraising campaign for its new skilled nursing facility off Benner Pike in College Township.
When completed in 2020, the new 240-bed facility on Persia Road will replace the 80-year-old Centre Crest in Bellefonte, which has been operated by the nonprofit Centre Care since 2013, when ownership was transitioned from Centre County.
In August, Centre Care was approved for a $34 million direct loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the new facility, with the nonprofit required to raise an additional $6 million.
Thanks to donations from local community members and foundations, $3.1 million has already been raised.
The campaign, titled “Building a Community of Care: Brick by Brick Campaign,” will help construct the new facility which will have more space, larger rooms and will offer traditional long-term care along with three specialty care ‘neighborhoods’ that are in high demand: a high acuity neighborhood for patients with complex medical conditions; a memory care neighborhood; and a short-term rehabilitation neighborhood.
“Donations to this campaign ensures high quality, affordable, healthcare for Centre County residents. This isn’t just another healthcare facility, it’s a home for Centre County,” Betsy Boyer, Centre Care’s board president, said in a news release.
Centre County resident Molly Schwartz is honorary chair of the campaign. Her mother was a resident at Centre Crest in the 1980s and Schwartz continued her involvement as a volunteer for the hospice program and during the holidays. She also worked with Centre Crest as director of Centre Home Care.
“I’m excited to help lead this campaign,’ Schwartz said. ‘There will certainly be a greater need for long-term care in the near future and the larger rooms and additional amenities for residents at the new facility are just wonderful. We need this in Centre County.”
With no room to expand at Centre Crest, as well as expected costs for maintaining the building and the growing need for nursing care locally, Centre Care saw a need for a new home and in 2017 unveiled plans to construct the new, 135,645 square-foot facility.
The number of private rooms will increase from four to 66 and bedroom sizes will increase by about 100 square feet. The new facility — a central building flanked by two wings — also will offer more programming, enhanced food service and greater personalized care, according to Centre Care.
It will be the largest of only three in Centre County licensed to provide Medicaid care.
A ceremonial tree cutting was held at the new site in October as Centre Care celebrated five years as a nonprofit. Construction is expected to begin in the spring.
To donate or learn more, visit www.centrecare.org.
