The Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Assn. in 2005 easily exceeded its fundraising record. It netted $3.57 million, which was up from $1.6 million in 2004.

“We’ve had a record-breaking year with support from the community,” said Kathy Clausing, vice president and chief development officer for the endowment association. “That’s the big goal for 2006: continue the momentum.”

The Capital Campaign to fund $8 million of a $35 million expansion at the hospital reflected most of the fundraising increase for 2005.

Members of the endowment association received that news and other updates during the 37th annual meeting Wednesday at the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass.

General co-chairs Sandy Praeger, the Kansas Insurance Commissioner, and her husband, Dr. Mark Praeger, also announced that the Capital Campaign had so far collected 86 gifts for about $4.3 million.

Expansion plans include relocating and enlarging the emergency department, converting all hospital rooms into private rooms, improving the intensive care unit and adding birthing rooms to the obstetrics department.

LMH officials have also purchased land in Eudora to compete as a regional hospital with Kansas City-area health care providers.

“My goal is to get everybody to root for the underdog and to get people involved in this campaign,” Mark Praeger said.

“I’m so proud of our community hospital,” Sandy Praeger said.

Wednesday’s meeting also brought a change in the endowment association’s presidency.

“I’m so proud of what we had done, but I also know we have a long way to go,” said Connie Sollars, the 2005 president.

Bob Georgeson shared his goals as the association’s president for 2006.

The former president of Douglas County Bank pledged to continue to help the association raise funds this year, particularly “to continue to purchase the best medical equipment for the hospital.”

Dentist Justin Anderson, lawyer Jane Eldredge and Bob Frederick, former Kansas University athletic director, were named new endowment association board members for 2006.

Clausing said she attributed 2005’s success to the hospital’s reputation and the volunteers’ efforts to communicate the message.

“It’s because the community’s become better educated about LMH and the charitable needs we have in the hospital,” Clausing said.