St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary pledged $125,000 to the St. Luke Hospital and Living Center capital campaign Dec. 28. The campaign is part of a $6 million project to update the 57-year-old facility.

The project will not be finalized until the hospital receives a bond rating, determining the feasibility of the improvements. Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Armstrong said he is optimistic that St. Luke will receive a rating in January, but no timeline is set.

The donation follows an effort by St. Luke employees that raised more than $108,000 for the project.

Auxiliary president Judy Reno was pleased the group was able to make the pledge.

“We thank our members and the community for their support of the St. Luke Auxiliary Shoppe,” she said, “as it was the vehicle which enabled the auxiliary to make such a pledge.”

The auxiliary will present a $60,000 check to St. Luke Foundation at its annual meeting, Jan. 21. The rest will be paid in five yearly increments of $13,000.

Armstrong said he appreciates the auxiliary’s gift.

“The auxiliary’s donation is yet another example of the great support that we have for our hospital and project,” he said.

Family Gifts Division chairwoman Janet Herzet agreed.

“I continue to be so proud of the entire St. Luke family,” she said. “This donation from the auxiliary is another powerful statement to the community that the St. Luke family is committed to this project, local health care, and the community as a whole.”

The money raised is one of the first steps of a campaign to offset costs of the expansion project. St. Luke will pay for the expansion with revenue bonds. Revenue bonds are secured and paid for with future hospital revenues, not a new tax levied on residents of Marion County Hospital District No. 1.