Russ and Peggy both graduated from Columbus High School and attended UW-Madison. They were married in 1956. Russ spent 27 years in the Navy and in 1996 he and Peggy returned to Columbus. They became involved in many civic organizations and local volunteer efforts, including at PRH.

Russ began his service to PRH in 1997 as a member of the PRH Board of Directors. He completed three three-year terms and then moved on to become a member of the PRH Foundation Board of Directors for nine years. Both Russ and Peggy served on the PRH Foundation Capital Campaign Committee which raised nearly $2 million to build a new Emergency Room and Urgent Care at the hospital back in 2002. Russ received the Wisconsin Hospital Association Trustee of the Year Award in 2006 in recognition of his commitment to healthcare in the state of Wisconsin.

The recent Fredrick donation to the PRH Foundation was earmarked for the foundation’s general endowment, which now totals $796,325 – 80% of the way to the $1,000,000 goal.

"Once the million dollar goal is achieved, we will begin to utilize the interest toward additional equipment and projects for the hospital," said Kristi Line, PRH Foundation Executive Director.

The general endowment is one of four endowments held by the PRH Foundation. In 2006, Prairie Ridge Health granted the PRH Foundation $30,000 to establish three separate endowments of $10,000 each to allow a person’s gift to the fund to be in perpetuity. A women’s health endowment, a community education endowment, and an equipment/infrastructure endowment were created. Russ was a member of the PRH Board of Directors at that time.

"Russ and Peggy had an incredible shared vision that focused on doing what is best for the entire community," said PRH President and CEO John Russell. "We are forever grateful to them for their generosity, not only in their monetary gift, but also the knowledge and support they provided to our organization and Wisconsin healthcare in general for so many years."

For more information regarding the PRH Foundation endowments, contact Kristi Line, PRH Foundation Executive Director at 920-623-1370 or kline@prairieridge.health.