About Trees of Life

The trees are a symbol of life and what our hospitals mean to our communities.

The leaves form an umbrella of sharing and caring that symbolically shelters and nurtures all of us.

KCH Tree and Forest of Life represents gifts to the Friends for Life KCH100 Annual Giving Club. The first Tree of Life, created by renowned artist Sanford Werfel, was dedicated in 1985 in memory of Doris “Dodie” Baack, and graces the hallway on the Garden Level near the Doug & Lynn Roberts Conference Center at Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Also located here are new trees in our Forest of Life, sponsored by the KCH Auxiliary. Each leaf represents a gift of $1,000, while each stone represents a gift of $10,000.

Two trees in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Atrium (at the KishHealth Resource Center on Bethany Road) hold 330 leaves and 12 stones, representing gifts of $750,000.

Located on the wall in the north entrance lobby (the main lobby), Valley West Community Hospital’s Tree of Life represents gifts to the Heart of the Hospital Giving Club Campaign. Established in 2004, this campaign has raised a quarter of a million dollars in just over three years through over 1300 donations. The Tree of Life includes bronze leaves, representing a gift of $100-499; silver leaves, representing gifts of $500-$999; and gold leaves representing gifts of $1,000-$4,999. Stones beneath the Tree represent gifts of $5,000 or more.

Online Donations

For the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Forest of Life, click Friends for Life KCH100

For the Valley West Community Hospital Tree of Life, click Heart of the Hospital

All donations are sent via our secure server.