What is the Capital Medical Society Foundation?

The mission of the Capital Medical Society Foundation is to support the charitable efforts of physicians and others, increase access to healthcare, promote education and serve the community’s health needs through innovative projects that are exemplary, affordable and dignified.

Since 1975, a charitable foundation has operated alongside the Capital Medical Society. The Foundation for Medical Care of the Big Bend Area of Florida was incorporated in 1975 and in 1981 the Foundation officially changed to its current name, the Capital Medical Society Foundation. The Foundation directed its efforts toward education, social services and healthcare. The founding board was:

In December of 1983, the Foundation purchased the office located at 1204 Miccosukee Road for the Capital Medical Society, with the help of Mr. Buddy Strauss and Mr. Block Smith, moving the CMS location from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Renting out one side of the building enabled the Foundation to pay off the mortgage on the building, along with pledges to the Foundation and a loan from Sun Bank. The building is now owned debt-free by the Foundation.

The Foundation’s mission statement was drafted by an ad hoc committee comprised of: Brian Sheedy, M.D., Ken Wasson, M.D., Chuck Manning, M.D., Jim Stockwell, M.D., Bill Keeper, M.D. and Karen Wendland. The Capital Medical Society Foundation's Board of Directors voted to approve the mission statement.

“Our mission helps to focus and energize our efforts to improve the health and well-being of our community, “ says Dr. John Mahoney, CMS Foundation President. “Our fellow physicians have a long, impressive history of giving their time, treasure and talent. The Foundation’s goal is to raise funds to support these charitable endeavors,” said Mahoney.

The Ronald G. Pickett Memorial Fund

This memorial fund is named for the brother of the first executive director of the CMS, Diane Pickett. Sadly, he died at a young age of cancer and the family established a memorial fund in his name. The family donated $25,000 and the CMS Foundation matched their donation. Interest earned on this fund is donated to programs that deal directly with the care and treatment of cancer.

Medical School Scholarships

These annual scholarships go to deserving, first or second year students enrolled in Florida State University’s College of Medicine. Many of these scholarship recipients are local residents who return to our area to practice medicine after they complete their training. Before the FSU College of Medicine opened, the CMS Foundation gave scholarships to PIMS students at FSU. To date, the CMS Foundation has donated more than $130,000 in scholarships.

The CMS Foundation also gives an annual "Access to Care Award" to a graduating senior from the FSU - College of Medicine, who has worked actively to increase access to medical care to underserved populations. The "Access to Care Award" is a $1,000 cash award.

Charitable Donations to Healthcare Related Groups

Because the Foundation seeks to fund exemplary community healthcare projects, that increase access to healthcare, they carefully select and make donations to different local charities each year. Recipients include the Florida Institute of Rehabilitation Education (F.I.R.E.), the Big Bend Homeless Coalition, Big Bend Hospice and the Big Bend Regional Healthcare Information Organization (BBRHIO).

In the past, the CMS Foundation has given leadership gifts to projects such as the Refuge House Capital Campaign and the Hospice House Endowment Fund. The Tallahassee Physicians Association dissolved operations in 1997, leaving a charitable grant to be administered by the CMS Foundation. The TPA gave $150,000 from remaining administrative funds to be donated to non-profit organizations demonstrating the ability to contribute positively to the health status of the Tallahassee community in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Some recipients were Big Bend Hospice, Care Net and the Children’s Home Society Early Intervention Program.

We Care Network

In 1992, CMS physicians created the We Care Network. Today, more than 325 volunteer physicians provide donated specialty medical treatment and hospitalization to uninsured residents of Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson and Wakulla counties. The We Care Network is a collaboration between physicians, hospitals and other allied health professionals, which have donated more than $35 million in specialty care to needy patients since 1992.

The CMS Foundation writes grants specifically to raise funds for the We Care Network. This financial support pays for the administrative costs of case managers, who manage the flow of patients in and out of the We Care Network. Capital Health Plan, The Charles A. Frueaff Foundation, Inc., The Community Human Services Partnership, Leon County Health Department, The Perkins Foundation, The Blue Foundation and the Tallahassee Rotary Club have all been donors.

Dr. Charles Williams wrote his well-known book, Simpler Times, in 1993. When this book was published Dr. Williams pledged a percentage of book sales to the CMS Foundation, designated for the We Care Network. Simpler Times can be purchased at the Capital Medical Society or the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital gift shop. To date, proceeds to We Care have totaled more than $6,000.

Project Dental Care

In December 2003, the physicians of the We Care Network started working with the Leon County Dental Society to create Project Dental Care, recruiting 48 local dentists to provide donated dental services to low-income, uninsured patients. These donated dental services are coordinated by our same medical social workers within the We Care Network. Project Dental Care also operates six dental clinic days per year, in conjunction with the dental program at the Leon County Health Department. More than 320 dental patients are treated each year — with a value of $95,000 in donated services. Project Dental Care has made great progress in 2007-08.  If you would like more information about this program, please contact Ashley Crowley at 942-7963.

Annual Holiday Auction

A Holiday Auction is the Foundation’s annual fundraising event. Held at the beginning of December, it garners impressive community-wide support with sponsorships and/or donated auction items from local businesses. CMS members can support the Holiday Auction by attending, donating something for the auction or making a donation.

How Can You Help?

The CMS Foundation seeks ways to fund its many fine programs. In addition to cash donations, the Foundation also accepts donations in the form of real estate, securities, art objects, library collection, equipment, furnishings, gift stock donations, endowed gifts and cash.

Planned giving is also an option. Planned giving is broadly defined as that which is provided for legally by a donor during the donor’s lifetime. The principle benefits of a planned gift may not insure the Foundation until some future date when certain conditions have occurred or time has elapsed. Planned giving may also involve the reservation of benefits for the donor or some other individual or individuals. The instruments by which planned giving is evidenced by a last will and testament, a trust agreement, an insurance policy, or some other legal document.

Memorial gifts are a very dignified and thoughtful way to remember your CMS Foundation. When a loved one passes away, many times families will suggest making a donation to a charitable organization instead of sending flowers. A gift to the Capital Medical Society Foundation supports the charitable efforts of physicians. Memorial gifts to the CMS Foundation are the perfect way to support a physician going through the loss of a cherished friend or family member.

The Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation, meaning that all contributions made to the CMS Foundation are tax deductible. If you are interested in learning more about the Foundation or would like to make a donation, please call 877-9018.

THE CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION, INC MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED BY THE FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-435-7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NUMBER: SC-12222. 100% OF ALL DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO THE CAPITAL MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION.

Contributing to the Endowment Fund

The Capital Medical Society Foundation is planning for the future by establishing an Endowment Fund. The purpose of this fund is to create ongoing financial stability for the CMS Foundation, as it seeks to fulfill its mission through its many charitable endeavors in the Tallahassee area.

The mission of the Capital Medical Society Foundation is to support the charitable efforts of physicians and others, increase access to healthcare, promote education and serve the community’s health needs through innovative projects that are exemplary, affordable and dignified.

The Endowment Fund was established with $30,000 in 2003. Since then, the Frueauff Foundation has adopted a leadership role in growing our endowment fund, with gifts totaling more than $40,000. Individual physicians have made generous donations. Today, the Endowment Fund is over $300,000.

The CMS Foundation’s premier charitable endeavor is its We Care Network. Therefore, as part of its endowment initiative, the CMS Foundation has also created a separate endowment fund specifically for the We Care Network. The fund began with a $20,000 gift from The Frueauff Foundation.

The Capital Medical Society Foundation Board of Directors has established and will oversee the Endowment Fund, under the auspices of its Gift Acceptance Policy and Investment Policy. The Endowment Fund operates under the CMS Foundation’s 501(c)3 tax status, as designated by the IRS.

If you would like to make a donation to the CMS Foundation’s Endowment Fund, please call the CMS office at 877-9018. Make your donation check out to: CMS Foundation Endowment Fund. Please designate it as “We Care Network Endowment,” if you would like your donation to specifically support the We Care Network. Mail your check to: Capital Medical Society Foundation, 1204 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308.