A thirty year avocation as a local philanthropist snuck up on Bob Woodworth while he was busy doing other things – running a successful small business and being involved in dozens of community projects. When BMH contacted him to express their appreciation for Burrows Specialized Sports’ faithful donations – every year since 1985 – he was somewhat surprised. “Then I did the math and realized it actually has been that many years,” said Woodworth. “I guess it adds up over time.”
Supporting BMH has been a natural extension of Woodworth’s community spirit. He grew up in Brattleboro and at one time lived within 2 blocks of BMH. He served on BMH’s Board of Directors for 9 years, co-chaired the Small Business Division of one of the hospital’s first capital campaigns, and is still actively involved as a Corporator and a member of the Quality and Planning Committee. Woodworth has gained an insider’s knowledge of what it takes to maintain the presence of a high-quality community hospital in a region like Windham County. “Lots of people don’t realize the fragile nature of health care,” he comments, caught in a quiet moment in his downtown Brattleboro sports store. “They automatically assume that a hospital is just there, like a school, and don’t think about what it takes to maintain the viability of a resource like BMH.”
Supporting BMH through his business makes sense to Woodworth. “It’s a benefit to us all,” he remarks. “I use the hospital, my employees use it, and it adds value to our community.” He appreciates that BMH is local, yet linked to tertiary medical facilities through innovations in telemedicine. “Collaboration is the future of medicine,” says Woodworth. “It’s great that BMH is part of a coalition of providers who can collaborate to give us access to excellent health care in our own community.”
Burrows Specialized Sports made its first gift to BMH’s Annual Fund in 1985, and Woodworth has continued the tradition each year since. “I believe in businesses giving back to the communities that support them,” he says. “Knowing the people of BMH and knowing what a good cause it is, makes it an easy decision each year.”