Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari’s $10 million gift strengthens the future of care in Whatcom County

At PeaceHealth, our Mission calls us to promote personal and community health, relieve pain and suffering and treat each person with love and respect. This mission is strengthened every day by generous donors who believe in a healthier future for their communities.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of people across Whatcom County, the Stronger Together campaign at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center has reached a historic milestone, raising more than $100 million to expand and modernize care for the region. Among the leadership donors who helped make this milestone possible are Fred Kaiser and Grace Borsari, whose transformational $10 million gift — a leadership investment in the Stronger Together campaign helped inspire tremendous community support. This gift is a reflection of their deep commitment to ensuring families have access to outstanding care close to home.

Fred and Grace have long been pillars of this community. As co-founders of Alpha Technologies, they helped transform Bellingham into a center for high tech innovation through a company that grew to serve global cable, broadband and telecommunications customers. Their success created new job opportunities and strengthened economic development across the region, opening doors for families and empowering the future of young people.

Both Fred and Grace grew up with modest means, and those early experiences still guide their approach to giving.
“If I am in a position today to help people, I will,” Fred said. “It is empathy for one another that makes giving important. You do what you can, and then you go beyond.”

Grace shares that same sense of responsibility. Growing up in Switzerland, she learned that anything worth having required hard work.
“Health is your number one possession,” Grace said. “Every person will need healthcare at some point. When that day comes, you want a hospital that is good, clean and has enough space for everyone who needs it.”

During a recent PeaceHealth St. Joseph tour, Fred and Grace witnessed the realities of a growing community served by facilities stretched to capacity. They saw caregivers doing their best with limited room and that experience resonated with them deeply.

Fred connected what he saw to decades of leading successful, growing organizations.
“When you create more space, people can breathe again. The whole system becomes happier and more effective,” he explained.

Their gift to the Stronger Together campaign directly advances the creation of a modern, unified emergency department and the new Peter Paulsen Pavilion, while also improving rapid patient transport through the addition of a rooftop helipad. Their shared passion for aviation makes their leadership especially meaningful, since their generosity expands air medical access for the region. These investments, along with strengthened childbirth, gynecological and pediatric services, help ensure every person receives care in an environment that reflects PeaceHealth’s commitment to compassion, dignity and excellence. 

When asked why they give, Fred and Grace often return to a belief that has guided them throughout their lives: strong communities take care of one another. For them, philanthropy is not about recognition but about responsibility. 

“If you help the community, you help yourself,” Fred says. “Everyone wins.” 

Grace speaks with deep gratitude for the place that welcomed them so many years ago. “This community gave us a chance,” she says. “Helping the hospital means helping every person who calls this place home.”

Because of their generosity — and the collective support of donors across the region — PeaceHealth St. Joseph is shaping the future of healthcare for Northwest Washington.

Their support will not only create a safer, more efficient environment for care, but also support caregivers and families during life’s most difficult moments. Most importantly, it will touch thousands of lives for generations to come.

The Stronger Together campaign reflects what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for better health. While this campaign milestone marks a significant achievement, the momentum created by donors like Fred and Grace continues to carry this work forward. Their generosity helps PeaceHealth expand access to care, support innovation and strengthen services for families across Whatcom County for years to come.

Fred and Grace’s legacy is one of compassion, vision and belief in a healthier future for all. Their gift is a powerful reminder that we are strongest when we care for one another. Together, we build a community where every person can receive the hope and healing they deserve.