WHO:              Franciscan Alliance leadership and board members

                           Tonn and Blank Construction leadership

                           Franciscan Health Foundation leadership & board members

                           The Most Rev. Robert McClory, bishop of the Diocese of Gary

                           Local elected officials

WHAT: Franciscan is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony next week for a new medical building in Valparaiso. The event will include a blessing by Bishop McClory. The building is being built by Tonn and Blank Construction at 3400 Mariposa Drive at the southeast corner of State Roads 2 and 49. It will house an ExpressCare, primary care and specialty physician offices, diagnostic imaging, CT, MRI, ultrasound and laboratory services.

WHERE: 3400 Mariposa Drive, just north of Ivy Tech Community College

Valparaiso, Indiana

WHEN:            11 a.m. CDT

Tuesday, Oct. 29

WHY:  The event celebrates the beginning of this important project in the Region with blessings by Bishop McClory.

VISUALS: Dignitaries digging the first shovels of soil for the project; blessing by Bishop McClory.

AUDIO: Comments by leaders of the various entities assembled for the groundbreaking event. Interviews will be available as time allows.

CONTACT:          Lauri Keagle

                           Communications & Media Relations Specialist

                           Franciscan Health

                           (219) 662-6662 (office – direct)

                           (219) 677-4004 (cell – day of event)

                                                     Lauri.Keagle@franciscanalliance.org