About the Foundation

The UVMC (Upper Valley Medical Center) Foundation's history began nearly a century ago, when Julia Ball Thayer donated funds to establish a memorial in honor of her brother, DeLoss C. Ball. On Nov. 30, 1905, Ball Memorial Hospital was dedicated in Piqua to provide medical care to the citizens of the region. Later known as Piqua Memorial Medical Center, the facility expanded over the decades to provide modern health care services. The Piqua Memorial Foundation supported many projects to benefit the hospital through the years.

The late 1920's marked the opening of the Troy Memorial Hospital. This facility was later named the Stouder Memorial Hospital, after the Troy industrialist A.G. Stouder who had donated $200,000 toward establishing a hospital for the community. Continuing support from the Stouder Memorial Hospital Foundation helped fund multiple expansions and additions as well as to enhance important health care services throughout the years.
 
Dettmer Hospital was founded with a $1 million bequest from Miami County native Jacob Gerhard Dettmer in 1953. Originally a convalescent facility, it soon grew into a general hospital and later added specialty services including a nursing home facility and extensive rehabilitation/therapy department. By 1967, Dettmer added one of the first hospital-based mental health centers in Ohio. As Dettmer continued to focus its emphasis on specialty care services, the Dettmer Hospital Foundation supported projects such as the children's mental health unit.
 
All three Miami County hospitals shared one very important component when they were founded: each was the result of a donation by someone who believed in the community and wanted to help others receive top-notch medical care. Each of these facilities was built through generosity, pride in the community, and progressive thinking.
 
The Upper Valley Medical Center health system was established Jan. 1, 1986, through the consolidation of the Miami County hospitals to offer a full-range of high quality, cost-effective health care to Miami County and the surrounding area. In addition to the three hospitals, the UVMC health system encompasses several nursing homes and outpatient facilities. A new foundation was formed to provide a mechanism for people to donate to the entire health care system.
 
In August, 1997, the UVMC Foundation was formed by combining the assets of the former Piqua Memorial Foundation, the Dettmer Foundation, and the Upper Valley Medical Center’s Foundation. The Stouder Foundation board elected to become a donor-advised fund within the Troy Foundation, and continues to support the Upper Valley Medical Center and other health care entities.
 
Today, Miami County continues to build on the tradition of philanthropy by working to fund projects that enhance the quality of health care services offered in our community.

Meet the UVMC Foundation’s board of directors.