The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has awarded Providence Montana Health Foundation a $550,000 grant to support the Critical Access Campaign, bringing a bold vision for rural healthcare closer to reality. This meaningful gift strengthens momentum for an $18 million philanthropic effort to support a multi-phase transformation of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson and ensure that rural patients and families can continue to receive exceptional care close to home. Combined with generous community support and Providence’s investment, the full transformation will cost $26 million.
Caryl Perdaems, Chief Administrative Officer, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, says, “Investments in rural healthcare are more important than ever as communities respond to growing needs and ensure patients do not have to travel far for life-changing care. We are deeply grateful for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s support, which helps move this vision forward and strengthens our ability to serve the community for generations to come.”
Construction is underway in the first phase of the transformation – a new rural health clinic, funded entirely through philanthropy, is expected to be fully in use by October 2026. Once complete, the clinic will expand primary care providers from four to seven and behavioral health providers from two to five. It will also add four behavioral health rooms and a private behavioral health waiting room, creating a more welcoming, dignified experience for patients while making room for 7,000 additional annual visits across primary and behavioral health services.
“The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s generosity proves what philanthropy makes possible - ensuring that families across our region can get exceptional care without leaving the communities they love,” says Megan Beard, Senior Philanthropy Officer, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. “Every donation to the Critical Access Campaign brings that future closer, and that kind of impact lasts for generations.”
Future phases of the Critical Access Campaign will support a thoughtful renovation of the emergency department and plans to bring a state-of-the-art MRI suite inside the hospital. These improvements will enhance patient comfort, strengthen care delivery and modernize essential services for the Flathead and Mission Valleys.
This investment is especially meaningful because it reflects a shared commitment to healthier communities across the Pacific Northwest. Through its support of organizations that strengthen the region’s social and cultural fabric, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has long championed projects with lasting community impact.
The Critical Access Campaign is about more than buildings and equipment - it is about the future of rural healthcare for generations to come.
With partners like the Murdock Trust, St. Joe’s is building a lasting impact so that every neighbor has care when and where it matters most.
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