Pat Kelly: A Legacy of Excellence in Bemidji

At the Sanford Health Foundation of Northern Minnesota, we put philanthropy to work in countless ways to make a difference for patients and families across the Bemidji region.

So much of the good we’re able to do today can be traced back to the work of dedicated and passionate people who came before us to advance our mission of care. People whose legacies of excellence continue to make an impact today.

People like Pat Kelly.

In the mid-1970s, Pat Kelly was in search of a part time job. The busy mom of four kids needed something that would work with her family’s schedule, so she took a position working evenings and weekends at the reception desk for what was then Bemidji Hospital (now the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center).

Pat learned the job quickly, fielding every call and answering every inquiry with professionalism and kindness. After a short time, she’d settled into the new routine and had found a nice balance between her family life and her professional life. Things seemed to be working out.

Then she saw a note pinned to the bulletin board in the break room that changed everything.

“They wanted to build a new hospital and the note was asking for someone who could write press releases. I had two degrees in English so I thought, ‘well I can do that,’” Pat remembers.

Little did she know at the time, but that note on the bulletin board sparked what would become a 25-year-long career in public relations, development and eventually, fundraising, for what is today the Sanford Health Foundation of Northern Minnesota — a career whose impact is still being felt throughout the Bemidji region today.

Shortly after she began her new role writing press releases, Pat’s list of responsibilities grew.

And grew. And grew. And grew some more.

In addition to press releases, “they wanted to do monthly newsletters, so I did that. Then, as they began to build the new hospital, they wanted someone for public relations. So from there, I became the public relations director,” Pat said.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bemidji State University, Pat was well-suited for the work, and she thrived on the new opportunities.

“I started by meeting with different community clubs and organizations where I presented a slide show outlining the need for a new hospital and showing where it was going to be — which at the time was a big potato field,” she said.

She also wrote a Q&A column about the move to a new hospital for the local newspaper.

Once construction on the new hospital began, Pat worked with community leaders to inspire support for the project and even gave tours during the construction process.

When the new Bemidji Community Hospital opened in the late 1970s, Pat’s responsibilities grew even more.

“At that time, I was put in charge of volunteers and public relations, so I trained volunteers to give tours of the new hospital. I also resolved complaints and directed emergency drills.”

“It was sort of like ‘other duties as assigned.’ You name it, I did it,” she said, laughing. “I used to say I was going to write a book on groundbreaking because we kept expanding — we sure did use that giant scissors and huge ribbon a lot during those days.”

In the early 1990s, hospital leaders tapped Pat for yet another opportunity. They wanted to grow the hospital’s Foundation and asked if she would be willing to take it on.

She of course said yes.

“I completed some additional education to learn more about hospital foundations and from there, we got to work,” Pat remembers. “We started by establishing various committees and set out to ask community leaders to participate on the committees.”

From there, she helped lead plans and strategies for annual support, business relations, major gifts, planned giving and employee giving.

With a strategic focus, Pat said the Foundation saw significant growth in annual giving, raising about $1 million over the first five years to support projects such as the hospital’s first kidney dialysis unit, a pediatric care area, cardiac rehab and more.

She also led community-building efforts to help engage with people across Bemidji — many of which still exist today, including “Doc Talks” and the annual taco feed.

When Pat announced her retirement in 1999, the hospital hired four people to replace her.

Now in her 80s, Pat looks back on her career and her contributions to the ongoing work of the Sanford Health Foundation of Northern Minnesota with pride and gratitude.

“It’s quite astounding to me and very gratifying,” she said. “I think what’s most important is that we got many community members involved and there’s still that support that exists today.”

“I’m very supportive of the hospital. My husband had Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and lived to be 92 years old, which is kind of a miracle with T1D. I often think that he wouldn’t have lived that long without the amazing care we have right here in Bemidji. I’m very grateful for everything that Sanford has brought here.”

While she no longer works for the Foundation, she is an active supporter — giving generously over the years to help enhance and advance care for local patients and families. She also enjoys staying informed about new projects and understanding how philanthropy can help bring them to life.

“I love that they established a child care center near the hospital campus for employees. I know philanthropy helped make that project possible and I think that’s so wonderful,” she said. “I remember trying to get a similar project going when I was working, but we couldn’t get it to go. Everything comes around again!”

She’s also excited about the new Mobile Mammography services which will serve communities surrounding Bemidji.

“This is a wonderful way to make sure women receive the screenings and preventative care they need,” Pat said.

Deb Koski serves as Chief Philanthropy Officer for the Sanford Health Foundation. She called Pat’s career, as well as her continued willingness to step forward, an inspiration.

In every organization, there are individuals whose contributions have shaped its very foundation — guiding its journey through growth, change and innovation. The story of Sanford Health is written by many such icons — individuals whose dedication, innovative spirit, generosity and commitment to our mission have left an indelible mark on our history.

In this special series, “Legacies of Excellence,” we pay tribute to the trailblazers, visionaries, and pioneers who have played pivotal roles in our Foundation’s history. Each story explores the life and legacy of these remarkable individuals — celebrating their contributions, the values they embody, and the lasting impact they’ve had on our system of care through their influence on philanthropy.

Join us as we honor these extraordinary figures whose stories continue to inspire and whose legacies live on in the work we do every day.

If you’re inspired by this story and want to support the work of Sanford Health in the Bemidji region, make a gift today. 100% of your donation will help enhance and advance care and services for local patients.