2015 Spirit of Caring Winners Announced
SPIRIT OF CARING WINNERS PRESENTED BY CRUSADER COMMUNITY HEALTH
And…Crusader announces Plans for a Sixth Location
Crusader Community Health 2015 Spirit of Caring Winners (l to r) Gary Halbach, Executive Director of Remedies, Inc; Roger Greenlaw, MD; Jessica Rielly; Kathleen Kelly, MD and Karen Brown.
Crusader Community Health announced the winners of the annual Spirit of Caring awards at its 43rd Anniversary event, TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK on Friday, October 16th at Giovanni’s, Rockford. Crusader also announced plans for a sixth Crusader location, Crusader Community Health on Alpine, that will be completed by the end of 2016.
The event attended by 525 persons recognized 43 years of teamwork and dreams realized at Crusader Community Health. The evening featured a themed dinner menu, entertainment from eddie b jazz, and a silent and live auction.
Proceeds from the event will support the cost of a sixth Crusader location, the Crusader Community Health on Alpine and other needs as designated by the Crusader Community Health Foundation Board of Directors. The new construction of a 20,000 square foot single story facility is projected to serve 4,500 clients within the first two years. The new clinic will improve clinic efficiency and relieve patient demand at other Crusader locations. Gordon Eggers, Crusader CEO stated, “The development of the new clinic fits in well with Crusader’s mission to provide healthcare access to the medically underserved in our community”.
For more than 43 years, Crusader has strived to ensure that all persons in the community have access to quality, affordable primary health care. During the past 12 months, the clinic served the health care needs of nearly 48,000 individual patients.
SPIRIT OF CARING AWARDS
The Crusader Community Health Foundation initiated the Spirit of Caring awards in 1993 to honor special individuals and organizations in our community who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in caring for others. A special Spirit of the Future Award honors persons 40 years and younger for their caring efforts. Nineteen individuals and seven organizations were nominated for the award by family and friends in recognition of their care and concern for others. Crusader Community Health presented the 24th Spirit of Caring Awards to: Karen Brown, Dr. Roger Greenlaw, Dr. Kathy Kelly, Jessica Rielly and REMEDIES.
KAREN BROWN is recognized as a caring leader in the healthcare industry. While being a great role model to others she is also known for encouraging professional growth and development to the staff at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center where she is a VP and COO. She has held numerous community board positions including the YWCA of Rockford, Byron Chamber of Commerce, Discovery Center. In addition she is active in Transform Rockford, Alignment Rockford and the American Heart Association.
ROGER GREENLAW, M.D. has devoted his time and dedicated his talents to the Rockford community through his involvement as a founder of Rockford Gastroenterology, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, the Coronary Healthy Improvement Project, Fit Families and the Jerimiah Project. Thanks to his leadership, his deep commitment to caring for the health of others along with his passion for the community several highly impactful community projects were developed.
KATHLEEN KELLY, M.D.-Over a career spanning more than a quarter century, Dr. Kathleen Kelly has worked diligently to improve healthcare quality that have impacted people throughout northern Illinois. Through her leadership roles as SwedishAmerican Health System, Dr. Kelly implemented quality improvement initiatives, introduced holistic health programs and wellness services to the community. She is an “unsung hero” who cares for many people selflessly and privately. Dr. Kelly is a member of the Crusader Community Health Foundation Board.
SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE AWARD
JESSICA RIELLY was nominated by MELD in recognition of her dedication as a board member to help MELD raise awareness of its programs and take leadership in fundraising for this organization. In addition she is active in IGNITE Group for young professionals under 40 and is a member of the Rockford Realtors Young Professionals groups who recently organized the ‘Rock the Block Broadway’ beautification project.
ORGANIZATION
REMEDIES, INC. For sixty years Remedies has been providing support and services for individuals and families dealing with substance abuse and addiction. They also opened their doors to victims of domestic violence. Remedies is committed to responding to these needs and offers intervention, treatment “many and far reaching as if their passion and belief in the power of healing and recovery.
Crusader Community Health extends special thanks to its generous sponsors.
Zenith Sponsors: SwedishAmerican Health System, The Kjellstrom Foundation, MercyRockford Health System
Premier Sponsors: Associated Bank, BMO Harris Bank
Major Sponsors: Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Brubaker Charitable Trust, Family Health Network, Community Care Alliance of Illinois, FurstStaffing, Meridian Health Plan, NEXUS Office Systems Inc., OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Savant Capital Management, Williams-Manny Insurance Group
Patron Plus Sponsor: Illinois Bank & Trust
Patron Sponsors: Alpha Controls, Alpine Bank, Rosecrance Health Network, VIKING Chemical
Benefactor Sponsors: David Hagney Architects, Liebovich Steel & Aluminum Co., Linda Niemiec, Rockford Gastroenterology Associates, Rockford Orthopedic Associates, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, workplace, Hinshaw & Culbertson
Partner Plus Sponsors: Thrivent South, ComEd
Partner Sponsors: Blackhawk State Bank, General Mills, Greenlee Textron, Giovanni’s, Wray & Suzanne Howard, Schmeling Construction, Morrissey Family Businesses, Roger & Kay Larrick, Perry Tuneberg, DDS, Phil & Paula Turner, Vella & Lund
Friend Sponsors: Comcast, Cord Construction, Dicky Staffing Solutions, Jack Wolf Chrysler Jeep, Loomis International Ltd., Northwest Bank of Rockford, Rock Valley Oil & Chemical Co., Rockford Structures, Specialty Screw Corp., Nord Swanstrom & Harry Wicherson, Ticomix, Watt Global Media
Publicity Sponsors: Rockford Register Star, WTVO-TV, WNIU/WNIJ