“Our entire community has come together for this project, understanding the critical impact the center has on so many lives. It was incredibly special to celebrate on our campus, beside the future site of this transformative facility.”
Leslie Keefe, VP of Corporate DevelopmentBENNINGTON, VT—July 10, 2025—The Summer Gala— Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) Foundation’s signature fundraising event and the region’s premier philanthropic occasion—netted nearly $1 million during a special celebration on the hospital’s campus on June 21.
The event, which raised more than $940,000, hosted over 350 people and marked a ceremonial groundbreaking for the building of a new regional cancer center on the campus of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health. The new facility will be the Hoyt-Hunter Center for Oncology Care at the Dartmouth Cancer Center Bennington.
SVMC’s Vice President of Corporate Development Leslie Keefe noted that the support was bolstered by some special, generous commitments.
“A special thank you to Tom Dee, SVMC president and CEO, for starting the Putnam Challenge with a gift in honor of his beloved late wife, Rita Dee, and to Cindy Thomson, daughter of former president and CEO, Bob Stout, who matched Tom’s gift,” said Keefe. “In addition, many thanks to Tom Green, Chair of our Board of Trustees, and his partner, Kristen Johanson, for their leadership. Tom and Kristen matched the first twenty gifts at the $5,000 level during the Putnam Challenge. Their match proved very effective, motivating thirty-two $5,000 gifts.”
In addition to the support garnered at the event, a $500,000 gift to the Hoyt-Hunter Center was announced at the Gala from Susan and Lael Kellett. These initiatives, coupled with the Vision2020 Physician/Provider campaign that has been underway for the last month, brings the total raised within the last 30 days to nearly $1.5M for the new Hoyt-Hunter Center for Oncology Care.
“Our entire community has come together for this project, understanding the critical impact the center has on so many lives,” said Keefe. “It was incredibly special to celebrate on our campus, beside the future site of this transformative facility.”
The plans for the new Hoyt-Hunter Center for Oncology Care is part of Vision 2020, A Decade of Transformation. With the success of the Summer Gala, and other major gifts, the capital campaign has raised nearly $29 million for major renovation projects at the hospital, including the Kendall Emergency Department and new main entrance. The new Hoyt-Hunter Center will double the number of infusion and exam rooms. The state-of-the-art facility will also enhance the center’s integration with Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only three National Cancer Institute-Designated comprehensive cancer centers in New England.
The event was organized with the help of a dedicated group of volunteer Gala Committee members, including Co-Chairs Rachel Caswell and Caroline Maran Ivanov, Caryn Packard, Carol Patterson, Cindy Marshall and Janet Thibodeau. The Honorary Summer Gala Committee members, whose generous support of the Putnam Challenge and live auction contributed to the success of the event, included Co-Chairs Susie Hunter & Doug Watson and Sallyan & Steve Pelletier, Marianne Chaikin, Susan and Lael Kellett, Topsy and Andrew King, Maxine Linehan and Andrew Koss, Wenke and Bill Sterns, Mary-Anne and Bob Van Degna, Debbie and Bill Wight, and Susan Willetts & Alan Pritz.
“An event of this scale can’t happen without a great team of staff and volunteers,” said Keefe. “We’re grateful to our Gala Committee and Honorary Gala Committee members for helping to make this a truly unique and ‘groundbreaking’ celebration in our region.”
The Summer Gala’s Event Sponsors this year were Tom Green & Kristen Johanson and Sallyan & Steve Pelletier. The Title Sponsors were: M/E Engineering, Mack, Old Mill Road Media, David Meiselman Esq. & Myra Packman Esq, Tonamora Foundation, and Susan Willetts & Alan Pritz.
Presenting Sponsors included Alfred Weissman Real Estate LLC, Allaire Health Services, Coggins Auto Group, Susan and Lael Kellett, John and Deborah Larkin, Dr. and Mrs. Scott Rogge, Bob and Mary-Anne Van Degna, and Ye Olde Tavern. Lead sponsors were: AOW Construction, Blue Mantis, and the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region. Supporting Sponsors were: Heritage Family Credit Union, Jason P. and Christine A. Morrissey, Radiology Associates of Bennington, The Rowley Agency – A Gallagher Company, Skanska Consulting & Program Management, SMRT Architects & Engineers, and MSK Engineers. Host Sponsors included: Thomas and Maria Ascher, The Bank of Bennington, Cardinal Land Properties - Scott and Diane Cardinal-Seidel, Drs. Catherine Cech and Frederick Baum, Drs. Carol Conroy and Anders Rhodin, The Gift Garden, Hayden Plumbing & Heating, Anthony Hoyt, William Hoyt, SHINE Strategy, Henry Simpatico, and Vlad Ivanov & Caroline Maran Ivanov. Community Business Partners were: Bennington Express Lube & Car Wash, Heritage Family Credit Union, the Inn at Manchester, Tyler Electric Security, and Wassick Tire Service. Shuttle sponsors were William T Burns Insurance Company and H.N Williams. Manchester Discount Beverage also supported the event.
Next year’s Summer Gala is June 13, 2026 at the 1768 Hubbell Homestead.
For more information about the event, visit summergala.com.
About Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVMC includes the Dartmouth Cancer Center at SVMC, the SVHC Foundation, as well as 25 primary and specialty care practices. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is among the most lauded small rural health systems in the nation. It is the recipient of the American Hospital Association’s 2020 Rural Hospital Leadership Award. In addition, SVMC is a five-time recipient of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. SVMC provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.