The Million Penny Parade

Dr. Kate NewComb envisioned a hospital for the Lakeland area, and through contributions and volunteer help construction began, but a lack of funds halted the building. Pennies then became a way to help complete it when pupils in the geometry class of Arbor Vitae-Woodruff School, wanting to see a million of something, took their teacher Otto Burich’s suggestion to collect pennies for the new hospital and launched the Million Penny Parade. In March 1954, Dr. Kate attended a doctors convention in California and appeared as a surprise guest on the T.V. program "This is Your Life," after which people across the country sent money for the hospital. With this money, amounting to $106,000, the hospital was completed and equipped, giving residents of the area the beginning of the present Lakeland Memorial Hospital.

Woodruff, Wisconsin · United States