At the beginning of March, Villa St. Joseph exceeded the half-way mark of its $2 million capital campaign to improve facilities at the long-term residential care and rehabilitation facility in Baden.

The "Building on God's Great Love Campaign," the first major fundraising effort of its kind at Villa St. Joseph, will aid in helping the facility establish better programming, technology upgrades, capital improvements and funding for charitable care.

Ray Niedenberger, director of development, said through donations already made to the campaign, some projects are under way.

One of two country kitchens is completed and installed and a large part of the rehabilitation department project is finished, including the purchase of equipment especially de-signed for working with seniors. The money to enclose the outdoor decks also has been raised.

A music therapy program, which features a certified music therapist, also was started about six months ago.

"It's going extremely well," Niedenberger said of the program.

"It's a big plus for our residents."

The campaign began last September and will run through the end of the calendar year.

So far, Villa St. Joseph has received $1.2 million towards its goal.

"We are humbled by the outpouring of generous support for the Villa from the community," Sister Judith Maroni, president of the Villa Board of Directors, said in a release from the non-profit organization.

"The magnitude of this giving confirms for us that Villa St. Joseph provides a valued service to our most frail and elderly population."

In addition to the support from the campaign committee and board of directors, several other community members and organizations have contributed notable gifts for the Villa's upcoming endeavors, including the Beaver County Community Development Program, Frank and Ann Cahouet, Al and Anita Costi-gan, John and Gina Dioguardi of Rome Monument, George and Eileen Dorman, A.J. Palumbo Charitable Founda-tions, Tom and Eileen Mc-Conomy, Bob and Joan Peirce, Dick and Ginny Simmons, Staunton Farm Foundation and campaign co-chair Gary Chace and wife, Janet, as of early March.

The Chaces, as well as co-chair Kathy Adelman, reside in Sewickley. Cahouet, McConomy, Peirce and Simmons also are familiar family names here.

"It's an honor and a privilege to help Villa St. Joseph reach its resident-focused goals," Gary Chace, who also is a Villa volunteer, said in a release.

"We believe the home-like setting, the presence of the Sisters and the quality of services set Villa St. Joseph apart from other facilities in the region," Adelman said.

Villa St. Joseph was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1997.

The facility can accommodate 120 people in need of long- or short-term nursing care or rehabilitation services.

Annually, the Villa provides about $400,000 in charitable care to more than two-thirds of the residents.

Donations, campaign or-ganizers said, are especially important now as the cost of healthcare continues to rise.

To donate to the "Building on God's Great Love Campaign," call Niedenberger at 724-869-6321.