ST. FRANCIS HIRES FOUNDATION DIRECTOR

Bill Kiel apologized for running a few minutes late for his interview, but St. Francis Medical Center's new foundation director is still learning his way around Cape Girardeau.

Learning his way around and meeting people in the region top Kiel's list of things to do in his new job as a fund-raiser for the medical center.

"I will be working closely with the volunteers, the Friends of St. Francis and the auxiliary," Kiel said.

Kiel has worked in fund raising for the past 20 years. He spent 10 years doing fund raising for Junior Achievement, an agency that promotes entrepreneurship and work ethics for youngsters.

The past 10 years Kiel has done fund raising for higher education and health care. Most recently he worked for an agency near Milwaukee, Wis., that works with people who have developmental disabilities.

He is a certified fund-raising executive and has taught for the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.

"I heard a lot of good things about Cape Girardeau," Kiel said. "I was impressed with the board when I met with them, and I am looking forward to the prospect of working in the health-care field."

He and his wife have three children. "We were looking for a community where we could stay a long time and establish some roots," he said.

Kiel takes over for Edythe Davis, the former foundation director who retired in April after 22 years at St. Francis.

"She did a lot of things very well," Kiel said. "She has made my job a lot easier. Now we are ready to move to the next level."

For example, Kiel said, "We will be expanding into the area of planned giving." He established planned giving programs at his last two posts.

Planned giving is a part of estate planning. Kiel said statistics show that seven of 10 people don't have a will.

"We will be giving people information and encouraging them to think about the future," Kiel said. In return, Kiel hopes some people will leave some money to the medical center.