Intermountain launches ‘Primary Promise’ to enhance area children’s health

Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare has launched what it calls “the most ambitious philanthropic initiative ever undertaken to enhance children’s health in Utah and the Intermountain West.”

“The ‘Primary Promise’ campaign to create the nation's model health system for children represents the most significant investment in the health and wellness of children across Utah and the Intermountain West,” Intermountain said in announcing the fundraising effort.

The campaign was launched under the leadership of the Intermountain Foundation and has set a minimum goal of $600 million in order to achieve its vision for children’s health. Primary Promise has already secured s $464 million in partnership with philanthropic members of the community.

“These gifts will help address increasingly complex physical and emotional needs of rapidly growing populations of children in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West,” the healthcare organization said. “These growing needs, combined with Intermountain’s close relationship with the communities it serves, creates an opportunity to create a holistic health system for children that will support more kids than ever for the next 100 years.”

“We’ve continued listening to the communities we serve and Primary Children’s experts, and now know we’ll need a minimum $600 million investment to improve the health and well-being of children in Utah and surrounding states for generations to come,” said Katy Welkie, CEO of Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health. “Without question, this is the most significant investment in the health and wellness of children across Utah and the Intermountain West in our generation. We are excited to see how our communities will embrace this promise we’ve made; make it their promise, too; and help us to reach our goals on behalf of their children, grandchildren and generations to come.”

The vision for Primary Promise was unveiled in January 2020, inspiring an gift of $50 million from Utah businesswoman, civic leader and philanthropist Gail Miller, who is serving as one of four community co-chairs of the Primary Promise campaign.

The effort subsequently attracted additional philanthropic gifts from community members, along with investments from Intermountain Healthcare.

With secured funding of more than half of the minimum financial goal, community and Intermountain leaders decided it was time to transform the Primary Promise from a vision to a formal public campaign. Primary Promise leadership now seeks to invite widespread public participation to reach its goal.

The campaign launch comes during the centennial year of Primary Children’s Hospital, founded in 1922 when two women saw a child struggling on crutches and felt compelled to act, creating the state’s only children-specific hospital.

The Primary Promise includes three broad components and associated projects, programs and facilities:

1. Primary Children’s Hospital will be strengthened with the additions of the advanced Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center, an enlarged and enhanced Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit, an expanded cancer treatment center and heightened research activities in partnership with University of Utah Health.

2. Pediatric care excellence will be extended across the Intermountain West to bring expert care closer to home. This effort includes the construction of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus, a second 66-bed Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi; and an expanded pediatric care network utilizing in-person and telehealth services.

3. Emerging children’s health needs will be addressed through expanded mental and behavioral health services; teen-to-adult transition programs for children with chronic illnesses; and an expanded Healthy Kids program focused on helping children stay healthy and safe in their communities, including helping kids experiencing food instability or past traumatic events to avoid health complications later in life.

The initial states of focus in the campaign include Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Alaska — all areas where Primary Children’s Hospital is already caring for children in need.

“We launched this transformational initiative because pediatric health experts are caring for more and more children every day and are seeing their needs become more complex and specialized,” said Miller. “Our children are our future, and we believe it is essential that we take this opportunity of a lifetime to support their physical and emotional needs, now and far into the future.”

Primary Promise hits home on a personal level for Steve Lund, co-founder and executive board chair of Nu Skin Enterprises, who is one of four co-chairs of the campaign. His son, Tanner, was referred to Primary Children experts for cancer treatment.

“He underwent a series of treatments, and the wonderful people at Primary Children’s Hospital made heroic efforts to extend his life. In fact, they did give him three additional years, for which we are forever grateful,” Lund said.

“Being involved in Primary Promise is the absolute best way to honor Tanner’s memory and keep him alive in my heart. It’s also the best way to provide support to other families who face similar unimaginable circumstances,” added Lund. “We know Primary Children’s caregivers have amazing stamina and compassion in working with kids who are often very sick, and they really are extraordinary souls.”

Primary Promise leaders are now inviting the public to support its efforts. Details about the campaign and ways to contribute can be found at the charity’s website, www.primary promise.org.