The woman who helped Whidbey’s public hospital system raise millions of dollars for equipment, employee scholarships and capital projects will be leaving the job next month.

Helen Taylor, the executive director of the WhidbeyHealth Foundation, is retiring from her position after nearly nine successful years. Under her leadership, annual contributions to the hospital grew fourfold. A total of $6.4 million was raised during her tenure.

“I remember on day one, I was told that we would never have enough support to hold an annual gala,” says Taylor. “I definitely took that as a challenge.”

Taylor emphasized the sense of charity and community spirit that she found on the island.

“The best thing about this job has been connecting with people on Whidbey,” she said. “This island has a uniquely philanthropic character that is truly inspiring.”

The hospital administration noted that the foundation, under Taylor’s leadership, has been able to fund equipment, training, nursing scholarships, pediatric rehabilitation equipment and much more in the last year alone.

“As Helen once said, the WhidbeyHealth Foundation puts the ‘fun’ in fundraising,” a hospital statement said. “She did just that with a laser focus of making healthcare more accessible for the residents of Whidbey.”

Taylor led the foundation during the challenging years of COVID, when support from the community was more important than ever. She said the generosity of the island really shined in the midst of the pandemic, when the foundation facilitated the distribution of thousands of masks and other personal protective equipment to medical staff.

The foundation’s current campaign is to raise money for two urgently needed ambulances. Taylor explained that the hospital normally sets aside money to replace ambulances every four years or so, but the pandemic put a wrench in the usual practice. Each ambulance costs about $500,000.

After she retires, Taylor said she plans to devote more time to rehabilitating historic properties. She is currently restoring Polly Harpole’s maternity home in Coupeville, where many children were born before the hospital was built nearby.