Rush County resident Donald Blume was elected to the position of vice president of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation Board this year. While Blume was born and raised in the Boone County community of Lebanon, he has had a lifelong connection to Rush County: Joe Alexander is Blume’s grandfather; Joe’s daughter Alice was Blume’s mother.

Blume lost his mother to non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1999 and remembers well the care she received during that difficult time. Witnessing that care has inspired his passion for the mission of the Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Anything I can do to help our local hospital financially provide the best care and services, I want to be a part of that,” Blume said. “I want to be a part of my local community.”

Blume graduated from Purdue University in 1997 and has worked his entire career for Wells Fargo. He took the position of Business and Agricultural Banker and was most recently promoted to Business Banking Manager of the Rushville Business and Agriculture banking office in October 2008. Blume was recently named the Sales and Service Award Winner for both Indiana and Ohio for 2008. Additionally, he is a Licensed Investment Consultant, assisting his clients with retirement planning and brokerage accounts.

When he moved to Rush County, Blume brought his young family: wife Jill and the couple’s two boys, five year old Maxwell and three year old Eli. They now live on the Alexander farm, continuing now in family hands for 145 years.

Blume joined the RMH Foundation Board in 2006 and lends his business expertise to the Board’s finance committee. That group helps make recommendations on best use of funds that come into the Foundation. His additional work on the scholarship committee includes evaluating candidates for high school and employee awards.

"I enjoy the scholarship program side of the Foundation. The opportunity to improve oneself in their chosen line of study or furthering one's education in their profession through additional education is very admirable. Our scholarship program helps to support the hospital staff in helping make opportunities happen."