Community Sponsorship Grants

Types of grants 

• Small grant request
  Use if you are seeking a grant for $500 or less. Grants are reviewed on the second Tuesday of every month and notifications sent out by the end of the week.
• Sponsorship request
  Use if you are seeking support for a community event or fundraiser.

Apply Online

St. Charles receives hundreds of requests for sponsorship each year. As a nonprofit organization, we try to focus limited dollars on opportunities that best align with our vision, mission and values. In addition to the modest funds provided for direct support to nonprofit organizations, St. Charles also invests more than $90 million each year in charity and indigent care for those who would otherwise not have access to health care. 

The following criteria will be used to determine financial support. Please read these guidelines carefully before submitting a request form. Each sponsorship requires an evaluation form after the activity. No new dollars will be awarded if evaluation forms are not current. 

• St. Charles will no longer sponsor events where alcohol is the primary focus – this includes fundraising events where alcohol is prominently featured in the title or promotional materials.
• Donations or sponsorships will be given to support those charities and organizations that complement the St. Charles mission.
• The group, program or event should reflect positively on St. Charles Health System.
• The group, program or event must offer appropriate visibility and branding opportunities for St. Charles Health System as a part of the sponsorship. This can include logo/name recognition, banner placement, etc.
• Events should be at least 45 days after the grant notification date in order to provide ample time for your organization to promote St. Charles' sponsorship.
• Health-related projects will be given priority.
• Preference is given to organizations where St. Charles caregivers are actively involved.
• Fundraising events for organizations that have close relationships with St. Charles’ clinical programs will be prioritized.
• One financial contribution will be made to the requesting organization per year, unless otherwise determined by the executive director of Community and Philanthropy.
• Each applicant must complete the online application in its entirety in order to be considered. Any materials on the specific group, program or event must be included with the application. 

Projects/programs unlikely to be funded:

• Organizations not serving Crook, Deschutes or Jefferson counties.
• Organizations without a 501-c3 Tax ID
• Legislative advocacy groups, endowment funds, multiple-year commitments.
• Religious organizations, for the purpose of furthering a specific religious doctrine.
• Requests that benefit a specific person or family.
• Field trips, sports teams or golf tournaments.
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, national origin or immigration status, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information or any other protected class or characteristic.
• Organizations that do not have a process in place to ensure that the event will remain free of offensive, hateful, discriminatory content and actions.
• Indirect costs for the program/project.

Sponsorship decisions are based on consistency with the above criteria. However, due to limited availability of funds, a request may be denied even if it fits the criteria. 

Proposals can be submitted at any time and requests are reviewed three times a year in February, May and October. October grants will be notified about approval/denial and funded in the following year.

Apply Online

About St. Charles Health System

With four hospitals and more than 390 employed medical providers, St. Charles Health System is the largest provider of medical care in Central Oregon. We take our role in our communities seriously and have pledged to work with our partners to achieve our vision: Creating America's healthiest community, together.

St. Charles Health System began in 2001 as Cascade Health Services when St. Charles Medical Center in Bend merged with Central Oregon District Hospital in Redmond. Today, St. Charles owns and operates medical centers in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and Madras.

Our medical centers in Bend and Redmond are accredited by The Joint Commission. St. Charles Bend is Oregon's only Level II Trauma Center east of the Cascades. St. Charles Prineville and St. Charles Madras are critical access hospitals that are well regarded in their commitment to modern, progressive health care.

A private, nonprofit Oregon corporation, we're Central Oregon's largest employer with more than 4,900 caregivers in Bend, Madras, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters and La Pine combined. More than 390 active medical staff members and approximately 200 visiting medical staff members also make it possible for St. Charles to deliver a wide range of excellent care in a compassionate, healing environment.

St. Charles at a glance

Lodging

We know that families often want and need to stay near their loved ones while they are patients at St. Charles hospitals. And there’s a range of convenient options available for patient families including our family stay park, the Ronald McDonald House and local hotels.

JELD-WEN Family Stay Park

The JELD-WEN Family Stay Park is provided as a free service to patients who are actively receiving treatment at St. Charles Health System and their families. Our recreational vehicle area was developed for your convenience and is designed to make your stay at St. Charles more restful. Please note that only one space is provided per patient. The RV park is not available for use by agency physicians or nurses unless they are a patient or family of a patient meeting the criteria below.

Patients (and family members of patients) who reside more than 50 miles from the hospital and are admitted as inpatients to St. Charles Bend – or, on a case-by-case basis, for outpatient care – are invited to stay at JELD-WEN Family Stay Park.

• Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and registration is required. Reservations may be accepted, based on availability. Call 541-382-4321, ext 7539 for help with reservations. Registration for an RV space is at the Main Admitting office, near the main entrance of the Bend hospital. When Main Admitting is closed, the Emergency Department provides check-in services.
• Please provide state-issued identification at registration.
• Each space is provided with free water, power, sewer and garbage services.
• RV washing is not permitted.
• RV camp sites must be kept clean and orderly.
• Tent camping and open burning fire rings are prohibited.
• Small pets (weighing less than 35 lbs) are allowed. They must be orderly and their waste must be picked up regularly.
• Per St. Charles policy, pets may not enter the hospital or clinics.
• Parking on the grass is not permitted.
• Length of stay is generally one day prior to admission or beginning of treatment up to one day after discharge or completion of treatment. If you need to extend your stay, you must go back to Main Admitting each week to renew your registration. Contact Facility Services at 541-706-6250 if you have any problems with your site. If you are calling outside of regular business hours, please contact the operator at 541-382-4321 and ask for the duty engineer.
• If you are staying in the park during the winter months, the water is turned off to prevent the lines from freezing. If you need to fill containers or holding tanks, please call 541-382-4321 and ask for the duty engineer.

Download the full Family Stay Park policy and registration form here.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Oregon provides overnight lodging and home amenities to families who must travel to Bend seeking medical treatment for their child, ages birth through 21. The organization also provides overnight lodging for high-risk, pregnant mothers who require bed rest near their care provider at the hospital. A private bedroom with bathroom can accommodate up to six adults and one child per family. In addition to private overnight accommodations, the "House That Love Built" provides several home-cooked meals each week; common play, laundry, cooking and relaxation spaces. A golf cart can be driven to and from the hospital.

If you do not feel comfortable being across the street from your child, you may request access to the amenities of the Bend Ronald McDonald House (laundry, kitchen, pantry, play room, outdoors space, etc.) for day use only.

There is no charge for use of the facility. However, a $20 per night donation is suggested to help defray the $113 it costs the organization to provide overnight lodging.

Qualifying families will have a clear medical necessity for lodging, will have been referred directly by their child's physician and/or a hospital social worker and can pass both a preliminary qualification screening and a criminal background check.

For more information, call the house at 541-318-4950.
To receive a referral to the house, call Social Services at 541-382-4321 ext. 4950

Local accommodations

There are several hotels and motels near each of our hospitals. Our Guest Services hosts are happy to provide patients and their families with brochures of local accommodations. The Central Oregon Visitors Association website also has an extensive list of lodging options and contact information.

Contacting a patient

Hearing from friends and family can brighten a patient’s hospital stay. There are many ways you can contact patients at St. Charles Bend, Madras, Redmond and Prineville.

iPad Video Conferencing

We have provided iPads in the units of our hospitals so patients can better communicate with their families while our visitor restrictions are in place. If you're a patient, simply ask your nurse to use the iPad.

Download User Guide

Email

Patients can use our Guest Wi-Fi Network to receive email on their own wireless devices (laptop computer, smart phone, iPad, etc.).

Mail

Patients love receiving mail. But consider the length of the patient's stay before you send something — patients are frequently discharged before postal mail arrives to the hospital. Address items of mail to the patient name, care of:

St. Charles Bend
2500 NE Neff Road
Bend, OR 97701

St. Charles Redmond
1253 NW Canal Blvd.
Redmond, OR 97756

St. Charles Prineville
384 SE Combs Flat Road
Prineville, OR 97754

St. Charles Madras
470 NE A St.
Madras, OR 97741

Nominate a Nurse

The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) Award is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999. During his hospitalization, they deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family. When he died, they felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way.

"When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do. The kind of work the nurses at St. Charles are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”
--Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation

Please share the story of a particular act of compassion for which you’d like to recognize a St. Charles Health System nurse. Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and caregivers may thank a deserving nurse by filling out a nomination form here.

Awards will be presented in November and May of each year. Each DAISY Award honoree will be recognized at a public ceremony in their unit and will receive a certificate, a DAISY Award pin and a hand-carved stone sculpture entitled ‘A Healer’s Touch.’ Additionally, everyone in the unit will celebrate with cinnamon rolls—a favorite of Patrick’s during his illness. The Barnes family asks that whenever and wherever nurses smell that wonderful cinnamon aroma, they stop for a moment and think about how special they are.

To find out more about the program, please visit DAISYfoundation.org.

Nominate a Nurse

Understanding your health care costs can be a challenge. Costs depend on many factors, including your insurance, where you received care and the types of services you received.

Types of bills you may receive as part of your service include a facility fee or hospital bill for the emergency, specialty or ancillary services provided where you were treated. You may also receive a professional fee for the services your care provider(s) performed; and lab fees for tests, diagnostic processing and interpretation of your results.

If you need help with your bill, you may qualify for Financial Assistance. This help is available for some underinsured and uninsured patients. Learn more about St. Charles' financial assistance program.

Preparing for your stay at any of St. Charles' hospitals

Information needed for admission

Please be prepared to provide this information and documentation:

• Full name, address and telephone number(s)
• Birth date and Social Security number
• Evidence of private or government insurance coverage
• Name, address and telephone number(s) for primary care or referral physician
• Complete list of current medications, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and nutritional supplements including dosages
• Complete list of known and suspected allergies
• Copy of Living Will or Advanced Directive*
• Contact information for your Medical Power of Attorney*

*We can provide copies of these documents if needed.

Items to bring for your comfort

We invite you to bring items from home to enhance your comfort during your stay including:

• Sleepwear, including robe and slippers
• Sturdy, flat-soled shoes and loose comfortable clothing
• Separate clothes for your return home
• Favorite toiletries
• Razors, curling irons and blow dryers are the only electrical items you may bring and only electric razors are allowed in the Critical Care Unit
• A prepaid calling card for long-distance telephone calls*

*Cell phones are permitted in most areas of the hospital.

Please do not bring jewelry and other valuables. The hospital is not responsible for lost personal items. Valuables that you inadvertently bring and which cannot be sent home with a family member or friend, will be collected and locked in a safe at the Business Office.

If you've forgotten something, you can also purchase amenities at our hospital gift shops.

Understanding orthopedic trauma

The field of orthopedics deals with the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Many orthopedic problems are the result of overuse injuries or illnesses such as arthritis. Orthopedic trauma, however, relates to severe injuries that are the result of a major event such as a fall, blow or collision. While some traumatic injuries can be treated by a general physician, some are more complex with a higher risk of complications. These may need to be treated by an orthopedic specialist or even an orthopedic trauma surgeon.

When do you need orthopedic surgery?

Orthopedic trauma can happen to anyone at any age, but it’s most common among those involved in contact sports or other high risk activities, as well as those with osteoporosis. If you experience an orthopedic injury, the level of care you may need will depend upon your age, general health and type of injury. Some injuries can be treated with nonsurgical methods, such as splints. Injuries that may require trauma surgery include:

• Compound fracture
• Fracture near a joint
• Growth plate fracture (Salter-Harris fracture)
• Multiple broken bones

While all orthopedic injuries should be taken seriously, it is particularly important to make sure that these types of injuries are treated properly as soon as possible to avoid long-term orthopedic problems.

Specialized care for orthopedic trauma in Central Oregon

At St. Charles Health System, we partner with a team of orthopedic trauma surgeons and nonsurgical specialists that is among the best in the region. We offer several levels of advanced orthopedic trauma care for patients of all ages, allowing us to customize your care as needed. Whether you need basic immobilization only or more complex procedures such as orthopedic reconstruction, bone grafts and joint realignments, we have the expertise to help you heal.

If you’ve experienced a traumatic orthopedic injury, don’t wait to seek treatment. Schedule an appointment with your orthopedic specialist today.

St. Charles Health System provides advanced surgical and nonsurgical care for orthopedic trauma in Central Oregon.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a problem with your brain’s electrical system. It is a chronic disorder characterized by the recurrence of unpredictable seizures that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. 

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and can develop in any person at any age, but is more common in children and older adults. 

The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a severe head injury, a neurological condition, such as a brain tumor, stroke or Alzheimer’s disease, or the cause may be completely unknown. 

How do I know if I’ve had a seizure?

There are many different types of epilepsy, and seizure symptoms vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. Having a single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.

Our epilepsy services

At St. Charles, our goal is to help you manage your seizures and medicines so you can have the best possible quality of life. This starts with proper diagnosis. 

You may be referred to our Neurodiagnostic Lab for a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) to confirm a diagnosis and to get more information about your seizures. 

An EEG is a painless procedure that records your brain’s electrical activity as wavy lines. The pattern changes during a seizure and may show which part of the brain is affected. The results can help your neurology care team guide your treatment. 

Epilepsy treatment at St. Charles

Your neurological care team will create a treatment plan for you designed to control your seizures as much as possible. It is also important to get your medications right, so you can enjoy as many activities as possible. Your doctor will listen to your goals for treatment and consider:

• Your personal situation

• The kind of seizures you have and how often you have them

• How medication has worked for you in the past

For the majority of  people with epilepsy, treatment with medications can control their seizures, although there are other approaches, including surgery, neurostimulation devices and dietary therapy. While some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, the seizures among others eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy outgrow the condition with age.

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain. Many different types of brain tumors exist. Some tumors are cancerous (malignant), while others are noncancerous (benign). When benign or malignant tumors grow, they can cause the pressure inside your skull to increase. This can cause brain damage, and can be life-threatening.

Brain tumors are categorized as primary or secondary. A primary brain tumor originates in your brain. Many primary brain tumors are benign. A secondary brain tumor, also known as a metastatic brain tumor, occurs when cancer cells spread to your brain from another part of your body, such as your lung or breast.

What are the early warning signs of a brain tumor?

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on the tumor’s size, location and rate of growth.

General signs and symptoms may include:

• New onset or change in pattern of headaches

• Headaches that gradually become more frequent and more severe

• Unexplained nausea or vomiting

• Vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision

• Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or a leg

• Difficulty with balance

• Speech difficulties

• Confusion in everyday matters

• Personality or behavior changes

• Seizures, especially in someone who doesn't have a history of seizures

• Hearing problems

When should I contact my doctor? 

Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have persistent signs and symptoms that concern you.

World-class neurological care, right here at home

Brain tumor treatment options at St. Charles depend on the type of brain tumor you have, as well as its size and location. 

If it's suspected that you have a brain tumor, your care team may perform a number of tests and procedures, including:

• A neurological exam to check your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes.

• Imaging tests. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to help diagnose brain tumors. In some cases a dye may be injected through a vein in your arm during your MRI study.

• Tests to find cancer in other parts of your body. If it's suspected that your brain tumor may be a result of cancer that has spread from another area of your body, your doctor may recommend tests and procedures to determine where the cancer originated. 

• Collecting and testing a sample of abnormal tissue (biopsy). A biopsy can be performed as part of an operation to remove the brain tumor, or a biopsy can be performed using a needle.The biopsy sample is then viewed under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous or benign. 

At. St. Charles, our team of experts will use these diagnostic techniques to carefully plan your operation and reduce the risk of needing follow-up surgery.