From Spotlight on Health - Spring 2009

“Good health is so important, without it, all the money in the world is worthless,” said Bob Feuling of Rice. Bob understands, however, that money is needed to provide the most advanced health care in Central Minnesota. In March, he and his wife, Linda, gave $1 million to CentraCare Health Foundation to support the St. Cloud Hospital Women & Children’s Center. The Feulings’ first great-grandchild was born in December at 2 pounds, 2 ounces. “Now we know firsthand how important services such as the NICU are for premature babies,” Linda said.

Linda and Bob Feuling are shown surrounded by their two daughters, son and grandchildren.

“Years ago, that baby wouldn’t have made it, but with the latest technology babies have a fighting chance. It’s important to continue to be able to offer the best care and the most advanced technology possible to the people in the St. Cloud area.”

Nearly 2,000 children and more than 2,800 newborns are cared for at the Women & Children’s Center each year. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurtures the hospital’s smallest patients, which in 2008 included 40 sets of twins, two sets of triplets and one set of quintuplets.

Recently, the Feulings toured St. Cloud Hospital and saw the need for updates and expansion. The CentraCare Health Foundation, which offered the tour, also connected the Feulings with an estate planning firm, Thompson & Associates, to assist them with their options.

“It’s important to make these decisions while we are alive and can control where our money goes,” Bob said. “I can’t control where my money goes after I’m gone.”

“We are blessed to have six children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, many family members, more than 100 employees and thousands of customers, friends and neighbors — all of whom at sometime in their lives will need the services at St. Cloud Hospital,” Bob said. “We want the best services available to our community for generations to come. What can help more in this community than to give to St. Cloud Hospital?”

“By giving to the hospital, we are giving back to the community and those we care about,” Linda said. “It is the right thing to do.”

The Feulings own Westside Liquor stores in St. Cloud, Sartell, Waite Park, Rice, Sauk Centre, Albertville, Baxter, Little Falls and Willmar, as well as Liquid Assets and Bella Boutique in Sartell.

If you are interested in making a gift, please contact CentraCare Health Foundation.