Gift Honors Family Legacy and Aims to Strengthen Rural Healthcare Across Kansas
Salina, KS — June 5, 2025 — Salina Family Healthcare Center (SFHC) is proud to announce a transformational $1 million matching challenge gift from the Augustine family. This generous contribution will support the development of SFHC’s new, expanded healthcare facility in Salina.
The new facility, to be located at 1001 Edison Place, will significantly expand SFHC’s ability to provide integrated medical, dental, eye care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. It will also bolster physician training through the Smoky Hill Family Medicine Residency Program, which prepares doctors to serve rural communities throughout Kansas.
To help bring this vision to life, the Augustine family has pledged to match $1 for every $4 raised locally, up to $1 million, in honor of their parents, Ted and Almita Augustine. Their gift serves as a cornerstone of SFHC’s $10 million community-focused fundraising campaign, aimed at building a healthier, more equitable future for the Salina region.
“We are familiar with the need for healthcare in rural Kansas,” said Mark Augustine. “Both of our parents grew up in rural Kansas, and this is a meaningful way to help Salina and our community. We are excited to have our parents' legacy honored through this new facility and by expanding access to care throughout Kansas.”
The matching challenge is designed not only to honor a family legacy but also to inspire broader community participation. Every local donation will stretch further, accelerating campaign momentum and expanding healthcare access across the region.
“This is a defining moment,” said Dr. Robert Kraft, CEO of SFHC. “The new facility will allow us to deepen our commitment to health equity and serve even more families with dignity and compassion. We are so grateful for the Augustine family’s incredible generosity and vision — it sets the tone for what this campaign is all about.”
The Augustine gift comes at a crucial time, as demand for services grows and rural communities face increasing challenges related to healthcare access. With support from local donors and community partners, SFHC’s new facility will help address these challenges head-on and ensure no Kansan goes without the care they need.
The matching funds will be distributed through the Ted and Almita Augustine Donor Advised Fund, held at the Greater Salina Community Foundation.
“I can’t think of a more meaningful way to carry forward Ted and Almita’s legacy than through these final grants from their donor-advised fund,” said Jessica Martin, President & Executive Director of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. “It has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside their children to identify projects that reflect their parents’ values and create lasting community impact.”
Learn More & Get Involved
Salina Family Healthcare Center invites individuals and organizations to learn more, take a tour of the current facility, or explore opportunities to support this effort.
📩 To schedule a visit or conversation, please contact Maddie Chandler at:
fundraising@salinahealth.org
About Salina Family Healthcare Center
Salina Family Healthcare Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and outreach services to residents of Salina and surrounding communities, regardless of income or insurance status. SFHC is also home to the Smoky Hill Family Medicine Residency Program, preparing future physicians to serve the rural communities of Kansas.
🔗 https://salinahealth.org
📍 651 E Prescott Rd, Salina, KS 67401
📞 (785) 825-7251