SF’s SVHsupport adopts Anchorum St. Vincent as new name

SANTA FE — The local half of Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, heretofore known as SVHsupport, has changed its name to Anchorum St. Vincent.

The nonprofit, which manages a $140 million endowment, says it also has a new, broader vision for its role as a “community health impact organization” making grants and community investments.

Texas-based Christus Health System bought half of the Santa Fe hospital in 2008.

SVHsupport has been the standalone local organization that owns the other half. The hospital’s board is split between the two entities.

The new, invented name Anchorum — described in a news release as “Latinate-style” — speaks to “our desire to be a trusted, foundational element in the community” and the organization’s status as an “anchor organization,” says the release.

Peter Bastone, president and CEO of Anchorum, said in an interview that SVHsupport has been a terrible name. “No one knows who we are or what we do,” he said. The goal is to use the new name as a springboard to “broaden the dialogue” about what the organization can do.

Bastone and Jerry Jones, vice president and chief financial officer, says Anchorum will serve as a “convenor” and catalyst among philanthropists, nonprofits and others. The focus of “impact” grants and investing, including by pooling with other “philanthropic investors,” will be in four key areas: health, particularly adult behavioral health and senior health and wellness; health innovation and economic development; expanding health system infrastructure; and extending care and facilitating access through the St. Vincent group of providers and organizations.

Jones said Anchorum is committed to distributing $2 million over the next three years and to using $20 million of the endowment for investments in local projects that could range from attracting bio-tech firms to Santa Fe to housing or education.

Bastone said in the news release, “Anchorum’s role as a community health impact organization represents a new model, which is one of the most progressive and innovative approaches nationally. Its mission-based, impact-investment model is changing the way we address social determinants with sustainable solutions for the physical and behavioral health of our community.”

Over the past 10 years, as SVHsupport, the organization has invested $25 million in programs to benefit Christus St. Vincent “and to have a measurable impact on health, children and quality of life for our community,” said local businessman Earl Potter, chair of the Anchorum board.