Avedis Foundation is a private foundation established in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 2012. The name “Avedis” means “bearer of glad tidings or good news”. Avedis Foundation is a catalyst and facilitator of change through strategic investments and partnerships with a vision to measurably improve the health, wellness and quality of life for the people of Pottawatomie County and its surrounding communities.
Our signature statement, “We’re here for good,” is both a commitment to the communities we serve and a promise to continue investing for years to come. The foundation staff and board of directors are consistently assessing health, wellness and quality of life issues in the county and developing new and innovative ways to improve outcomes.
A Legacy of Impact
When Unity Health Center sold to SSM Health the proceeds were used to establish Avedis Foundation.
Avedis Foundation issued the first grant to Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in 2013, adding technology improvements to the teen lab along with air conditioning in the gymnasium .
With strategic stewardship, the Avedis timeline keeps moving forward. Our work will continue as long as there is good to be done.
A trust agreement dated January 3, 1966 created the Shawnee Hospital Authority (SHA) as an Oklahoma public trust for the benefit of the City of Shawnee. According to the trust agreement, among the purposes of the SHA was establishing, constructing, remodeling and operating health care facilities. Community physicians and leaders played a significant role in helping establish the hospital system, and SHA incurred debt to purchase land and build hospital facilities for local residents; the debt was ultimately repaid with hospital revenue.
The City of Shawnee's relationship to SHA included certain responsibilities such as approving appointments, agreements or other SHA-related matters from time to time. However, the City's involvement with SHA did not mean the City invested in, owned or operated the hospital.
The hospital operated as Shawnee Medical Center.
MidAmerica HealthCare, Inc. (MAHC) took on debt through the issuance of bonds to acquire Shawnee Medical Center. From that point forward, hospital operations were governed through a nonprofit healthcare structure. SHA no longer operated the hospital system and SHA had no remaining interest in the hospital real estate or other hospital assets it conveyed to MAHC. Although SHA retained no ownership interest in the hospital, it continued to serve as the issuing authority for the bonds that funded hospital operations and expansion-bonds that MAHC was obligated to repay.
The hospital transaction and resulting charitable structure were fully vetted and determined to be legal by all of the Commissioners of the City of Shawnee and followed the legal processes required for nonprofit healthcare organizations. The intent was to preserve charitable health and wellness-related resources for ongoing public benefit.
The hospital continued to operate as Shawnee Medical Center.
Shawnee Medical Center began operating as Shawnee Regional Hospital.
Shawnee Regional Hospital and Mission Hill Memorial Hospital were unified under Community Health Partners (CHP).
After the merger, the hospital operated under the name of Unity Health Center.
Unity Health Center sold substantially all hospital assets to SSM Health/St. Anthony. As part of the asset purchase agreement, SSM Health/St. Anthony also assumed certain liabilities of CHP, including outstanding bond obligations. Proceeds from the sale were preserved in a charitable endowment so they could continue benefiting the community for generations to come. Through a name change, CHP became the Avedis Foundation.
While healthcare remained an important area of its charitable purpose, Avedis took a broader view of health - recognizing that access to care, mental health, education, recreation, childcare, nutrition, housing stability and community connectedness all contribute to long-term health outcomes.
With this in mind, the Board of Directors adopted the vision “to measurably improve the health, wellness and quality of life” to reflect this more holistic approach.
The Foundation’s service area was defined based on where the hospital’s patients had been from - Pottawatomie County and the surrounding communities of Seminole, Meeker, Chandler, Prague, and Little Axe.
The Board of Directors adopted a tagline of 'We're Here for Good' to signify their desire to do good things for our communities, while being good stewards of its resources for future generations.
Michelle Briggs was named as President/CEO of the Avedis Foundation.
- Shawnee received funding for "Splash" municipal pool
- Many local agencies and schools received initial grants
- Avedis & Shawnee partnered on Avedis Trails
- Maud & Shawnee received funding for pool projects
- Avedis awarded grants to county schools for playgrounds
- Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County launched
- Shawnee Master Trails/Sidewalks plan established
- Avedis awarded grants for Shawnee & Tecumseh splash pads
- Avedis hosted inaugural Health Week
- Avedis hosted initial Speaker Series
- Community Market of Pottawatomie County established
- Avedis partnered with OBU to renovate and open the Kemp ReNew Center
- SSM West Tower dedicated
- Avedis Leadership Institute created
- Community Grant Writer program launched
- Airport trail lighting installed
- Blue Zones Project introduced
- Craig Family Community Renewal Friendship House broke ground
- Avedis hosted first Celebrate Teachers event
- Avedis Park at Shawnee Middle School opened including tennis courts, walking trail, and outdoor amphitheater
- Dr. Kathy Laster Named President/CEO
- Michelle Briggs retired
- Foundation moved to new headquarters at 1500 E. Independence
- Avedis Nonprofit Executive Leadership Roundtable launched
- Grant awarded to construct foster sibling homes
- Avedis awarded grant to SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital Shawnee for 3D mammography machine
- Board of Directors defined Core Values
- County grants awarded for Safe Routes to School
- SUSTAIN Initiative established
- Avedis Health Week Relaunched
- Avedis surpassed $40 million in giving
- Shawnee became BlueZones certified community
- Nearly $185K in COVID emergency grants awarded
- Avedis awarded grant for Gateway campus expansion
- Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex Adaptive Field received grant
- Avedis hosted inaugural Clergy Appreciation event
- PPE provided to area nonprofits
- Avedis and OK Dept. of Health hosted mobile clinics to deliver free COVID and flu shots
- Avedis recognized First Responders & Health Care Heroes
- SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital Shawnee Rejuvenation Suite completed
- SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital Shawnee received grant for Comprehensive Breast Center
- BlueZones work transitioned to Pogo (Pottawatomie Go), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avedis Foundation
- 'We're Here For Good' Service Award established
- Avedis awarded grant to City of Shawnee for Woodland Park Amphitheater
- Foundation surpassed $55 million in giving
- Avedis partnered with Oklahoma State Dept of Education on a multi-year matching grant to place licensed mental health practitioners in area schools through Project RESPECT
- Shawnee Public Schools awarded artificial turf grant
- Avedis provided tuition assistance grant for OBU ACCESS alternative certification education program
- Foundation contributed to United Way Shawnee Recovery Fund for tornado relief
- Avedis partnered with Oklahoma Dental Foundation to bring the annual Oklahoma Mission of Mercy to Shawnee
- Shawnee Little Theatre awarded grant for hearing impaired system
- Foundation participated in its first PRI with revival of Van Sanford Apartments in Seminole
- Avedis awarded grant to Tecumseh Public Schools
- Foundation supported Seminole Boomtown Park rebuild
- Avedis partnered with City of Shawnee to build and renovate Splash Pads at Optimist and Boy Scout Park
- Avedis supported Jasmine Moran Children's Museum with grant
- Foundation awarded grant to Seminole Public Schools
- Avedis celebrated nearly 2,400 public school educators at annual event
- Avedis surpassed $70 million in giving
Avedis Foundation continues to focus on opportunities that have a lasting impact on the communities we serve, being good stewards of the resources to ensure....We're here for good!
Driven by mission. Guided by values.
