Hospital Creates 1885 Society

DANBURY — The Danbury Hospital Development Fund, Inc, the fund-raising arm of Danbury Hospital, announced the establishment of the 1885 Society, an organization for contributors who want to include Danbury Hospital in their estate planning.

The 1885 Society’s name commemorates the year that Danbury Hospital treated its first patients, as well as the year the State of Connecticut issued the hospital’s charter. Contributors can join the Danbury Hospital 1885 Society by including the hospital in a will or trust. Because it is a lifetime commitment, there is no minimum level of giving for membership.

“The creation of the 1885 Society assures that the dynamism and quality of Danbury Hospital will be maintained in the future for the benefit of our families and community,” said Robert Fornshell, MD, chairman of the board, Danbury Hospital Development Fund. “Joining the 1885 Society today will keep your memory alive for ages and assure your role in a healthy community in the new millennium.”

From its inception in 1885, Danbury Hospital has been a community effort supported by community contributions. The driving motivation for the hospital’s formation can be traced to the winter of 1882 when, according to hospital records, a group of community-minded men and women gathered to discuss the need for a hospital. Not long afterward, in April 1985, Danbury Hospital treated its first patients in two Queen Anne style houses on Crane Street in Danbury. From there, plans came for a permanent building.

Membership in the 1885 Society entitles contributors to several benefits. They include a certificate of membership, a Tiffany Company-designed pin, an invitation to the annual 1885 Society luncheon, an Investment in Tomorrow newsletter, confidential estate planning guidance, and invitations to estate and tax planning seminars.

For more information on the 1885 Society, contact David Lias at the Danbury Hospital Development Fund at 203/731-8088.