Hinsdale Hospital nestles in a corner of Hinsdale, Illinois. Founded in 1904 by a married couple with immense zeal, prayer and a Civil War officer’s generosity, this Seventh Day Adventist hospital grew and prospered into the 21st century. To commemorate the 100th year, Hinsdale Hospital leaders endorsed the writing of a hard-bound, comprehensive history book. GR-PR was engaged (and privileged) to be the sole writer, and a year later - “Century.”

Objectives:
·create a highly readable book,
·pay homage to Hinsdale Hospital’s founders and pioneers,
·demonstrate gratitude to all living hospital leaders (our target audience),
·record the history of the hospital as a single source.

Strategies/Tactics:
·The text had to be engaging and reader-friendly, or it would be viewed merely as a photo album.
·Paying homage to the founders and pioneers was fundamental to the book’s significance not only as a historical reference but as recognition and respect.
·It was important to “give back” to hundreds of living doctors, administrators, volunteer and community leaders who have had significance.
·The hospital’s history needed to be recorded in a permanent medium, one that would bring order to the jumble of scattered historical files and scrapbooks.

Results:
·Objectives were met or exceeded in every case.
·Readability
·Respectful stories of pioneers
·Use of the book as a thank you gift
·Creation of a one-source medium for the comprehensive history of Hinsdale Hospital.
·Verbal feedback noted the “warm style.”
·The Paulson descendants mentioned how much they appreciated the well-told story of their ancestors.
·The book was mailed or delivered to hundreds of VIPs.
·No books were sold; each was a gift.
·The history is contained within the covers of “Century.”

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