Renown Health Foundation
We build financial support through fundraising efforts that provide critical revenue for innovation, top quality care services, technology, programs and equipment, to meet the growing needs of the communities we serve.
Getting to Know Stephanie Kruse
March 16, 2023
There are a lot of impressive titles you can use to describe Stephanie Kruse: entrepreneur, marketer, philanthropist, leader, adventurer, nurse. And now with her planned gift to the Renown Health Nursing Excellence Endowment, she can add one more to the list: a member of the Renown Legacy Society – a group of visionary supporters who have chosen to make a lasting commitment to the future health and wellbeing of northern Nevadans. This generous planned gift comes on the heels of a significant cash gift made to the Nursing Education Fund last summer.
Stephanie is an inspiring example of someone who has dedicated her life to helping others. The daughter of a nurse and a retired nurse herself, Stephanie knows the hard work, selflessness and dedication it takes to create a successful business and community. As Chair of the Renown Health Foundation Board of Directors, she also understands the importance of attracting and retaining nurses within a healthcare system. As a way to contribute to a cause near and dear to her heart, she decided to include the Renown Nursing Excellence Endowment as a beneficiary of her retirement plans.
“I wanted to honor the memory of my mother, who was a registered nurse in a small-town hospital in Iowa.,” said Stephanie. “I was always very conscious of her passion for providing great care to her patients, and I wanted to provide funding for others interested in nursing.”
Across the nation, health systems are facing a shortage of nurses and nursing-related professionals. Renown is proactively implementing programs to build our pipeline of potential future nurses and keep those already in the field. Stephanie’s generous gift will help the endowment provide programs such as training, scholarships, loan repayment and professional development to increase retention and recruitment of prospective nurses.
“As nurses, we are entrusted with our patients’ lives,” said Melodie Osborn, Chief Nurse Executive at Renown Health. “We have the privilege of caring for people in their most vulnerable time and helping those who cannot help themselves. Stephanie’s generous gift to the Nursing Excellence Endowment Fund will help us develop new nurses for the future so we can continue to provide care to those in need for generations to come.”
No Stranger to Healthcare
Long before she found herself leading the Renown Health Foundation Board, Stephanie learned the ins and outs of healthcare. She graduated from nursing school and became a part-time nurse in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota nursing home while attending Augustana College to obtain a degree in journalism and a minor in theater.
As part of her journalism program, Stephanie completed an internship in the public relations department of a Sioux Falls hospital, and that led to her accepting a position as director of public relations at a sister hospital. She later was recruited by Saint Mary's Hospital and moved to Reno to be the director of marketing in 1981. She stayed at Saint Mary's for almost 10 years before starting her own company in pursuit of her passion for marketing strategy.
Since launching her brand, Stephanie has grown KPS3 to a multi-million-dollar firm with more than 60 staff members. Somehow, she is still able to find time to serve on six (!) volunteer boards, most of which are dedicated to improving access to better health and human services.
“I have a soft spot in my heart for organizations who strive against all odds to help those with the greatest needs,” said Stephanie.
A Leader in Planned Giving
As in most things she does, Stephanie is a leader in how she has chosen to give. She is part of a growing group of donors who are choosing to give through their estates or with non-cash donations (e.g. real estate, stock, business interests). Naming a charity as the beneficiary of all or part of a retirement account, like Stephanie, is as easy as filling out and submitting the beneficiary designation form for the account, and it is completely modifiable if circumstances change.
Americans hold 97-99% of their wealth in non-cash assets, including stocks, retirement accounts and home equity. For many donors, giving with these types of assets enables them to make an even greater impact than they could with a cash gift.
“It is our great honor to welcome one of our most steadfast supporters and leaders to the Renown Legacy Society,” said Dr. Brian Erling, President and CEO of Renown Health. “Stephanie is one of those rare individuals who advocates both with her voice and with her actions. We are so grateful for the work she has already done to advance the mission of Renown and know her impact will only continue to grow."
Thank you, Stephanie! You are making a difference today and your planned gift will do so for generations to come.
How You Can Help Make a Difference
Renown Health is focused on being the destination for all your family's health and healthcare needs. As a not-for-profit health system, Renown relies heavily on community funding. If you are interested in creating a legacy by including a charitable gift to Renown in your estate plan, please contact Planned Giving Officer, Abbey Stephenson at abbey.stephenson@renown.org or visit renown.org/LegacyGiving.
To learn more about our Nursing Excellence Endowment, contact Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 or visit renown.org/give.