Knoxville, Iowa – Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) and Pella Regional Health Center (PRHC) proudly recognize and extend the deepest gratitude to Leighton State Bank for their generous contribution of $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign.
Gifts to the Bridging the Gap Campaign will help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center and support the partnership between PRHC and KHC to bring radiation therapy closer to home for patients across the region. This gift represents more than financial support – it reflects belief in our mission, confidence in our collaboration, and compassion for the patients and families we serve.
“This gift is more than a financial contribution – it’s a commitment of hope for the future of cancer care in south central Iowa. We are deeply thankful to Leighton State Bank for their trust and support in our mission to provide access to essential radiation therapy for our patients and their families close to home,” said Katrina Nelson, Director of Public Relations & Foundation, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics.
The state-of-the-art radiation oncology center is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will significantly improve access to cancer care for residents of Marion County and surrounding communities, reducing the need for travel to distant treatment centers.
The 7,800-square-foot facility will house advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, including:
- A linear accelerator to deliver highly precise radiation treatments.
- A PET/CT scanner which plays a critical role in diagnosing cancer and determining the most effective course of treatment.
“It is inspiring to see the collaboration between two communities and two hospitals working to provide a convenient venue for treating a disease that has impacted nearly everyone in some way,” said Steve Fopma, LSB President & CEO. “As a locally based community bank serving Knoxville, Pella, and the surrounding area, support for this collaborative effort is a natural extension of what we do daily to advance our communities – we are honored and enthused to support this effort.”
Of the gift, Jenny Hesseltine, Pella Regional Health Center Foundation Coordinator said, “Leighton State Bank’s support of this project means a great deal to us. Serving multiple locations in Marion County, it is clear that Leighton State Bank is a true community bank. They see the blessings and benefits that this project will bring to their own customers, employees and families and were genuinely eager to do what they could to help bring this great project to fruition. We cannot say thank you enough,”
The South Central Iowa Radiation Center is projected to cost $14.3 million, with the majority of funding to be raised through the Bridging the Gap Campaign, led by the hospital foundations of PRHC and KHC.
Photo caption: Leighton State Bank recently contributed $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign to help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center. Representatives from Leighton State Bank are pictured alongside representatives from Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics: Jenny Hesseltine, Katrina Nelson, Nicole Goodenow, Marketing Manager; Steve Fopma, President/CEO; Joel Cornilsen, COO; Jim Baker, LSB Loan Officer, Paul Jones, Capital Campaign Committee; Barb Braafhart, Capital Campaign Co-chair; Mike Montgomery, Capital Campaign Co-chair; Mark Van Roekel, Capital Campaign Committee; Dave Sutphen Capital Campaign Committee.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a non-profit community hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area. Named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, KHC’s highly skilled medical staff and specialists provide personal, compassionate, and innovative quality health care to patients. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call the Public Relations Department at (641) 842-1418.
Pella Regional Health Center is a not-for-profit provider of healthcare that is accredited by The Joint Commission. It is recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, it is also recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® for Knee and Hip designations. The health center was also awarded the Clean Facility Certificate from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) for its commitment to infection prevention strategies and preparedness for biological events. Pella Regional Health Center’s mission is to provide healthcare and healing services with Christian compassion. Information on Pella Regional Health Center and its clinics is available by calling Public Relations at 641-621-2362 or visiting the website, PellaHealth.org.
