2016 Spirit of Caring Recipients Announced
SPIRIT OF CARING WINNERS HONORED BY CRUSADER COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A SIXTH CRUSADER LOCATION
Rockford, IL (October 21, 2016) – Crusader Community Health announced the winners of the annual Spirit of Caring awards at its 44th Anniversary event, “Kindness & Caring, Born in the DNA & Genes”, on Friday, October 21st at Giovanni’s, Rockford. Crusader also announced plans for the opening of a sixth Crusader location, Crusader Community Health on Alpine, that will be completed in April 2017.
The event attended by 525 persons recognized 44 years of ‘Kindness & Caring’ realized at Crusader Community Health. The evening featured a themed dinner menu, entertainment from the Fadded Genes, 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 44 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 48,234 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. Fourteen individuals and five organizations were nominated for the award by family and friends in recognition of their care and concern for others. Crusader Community Health presented the 25th “Spirit of Caring” awards to: Catherine Brown, Janet Holmgren, Nancy Kalchbrenner, Courtney Geiger. The organization award was given to: Special Olympics of Northwestern Illinois.
CATHERINE BROWN
Catherine is recognized for using her God given gifts to mentor young women, particularly young mothers, in parenting, academic tutoring and social skills. As a cancer survivor she gives back by volunteering for the American Cancer Society. She has been a strong advocate for the enhancement and improvement of West Rockford and is an active member of the West Gateway Coalition. She is a former member of the Crusader Community Health Board.
HONORABLE JANET R. HOLMGREN
Serving on the 17th Judicial Circuit Court since 1995, Judge Holmgren has been a champion for those with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, trauma survivors and abused and neglected children. She is the voice for those who have been disenfranchised and ignored. Her involvement in the community is interwoven in many organizations that share her vision including being chair of the Rockford Regional Health Council, working with Alignment Rockford, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Northern Illinois.
NANCY KALCHBRENNER
Nancy has a long history of being involved in volunteering for organizations in Rockford with a significant passion for the city’s youth and their education. She gives endless hours of time and focused dedication to many local boards, organizations and community projects. She is a past president of the Rockford Rotary Club and former member of the Rockford Public School Board serving as President from 2002-2009. She has also served on the boards of the Goldie Floberg Center, Rosecrance Foundation, and Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.
Spirit-of-the-Future Recipient
COURTNEY GEIGER
Courtney is an active community member highly involved in work that focuses on caring in her career with Goodwill as well as with community organizations such as Junior League, Special Olympics, United Way, Money Smart Week, Alignment Rockford and others. As Director of Mission Services at Goodwill, she oversees four programs that help people create opportunities to enhance their lives. Her vision and leadership for Goodwill’s mission helps to fill community voids and demonstrates genuine care to the people Goodwill serves.
Organizational Recipient
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS
Special Olympics provides the opportunity to experience the transformative power of sport for individuals who are at times marginalized in the community. Through its programming and outreach, Special Olympics changes the lives of people with intellectual disabilities solving the global injustice, isolation, intolerance and inactivity they face. The organization provides opportunities for more than 1,400 athletes age 8 and up.
Crusader Community Health extends special thanks to its generous sponsors:
PRESENTING SPONSOR: MERCYHEALTH
Zenith Sponsor- BMO Harris Bank
Premier Sponsor-Associated Bank
Major Sponsor-Alpha Controls, The Blazer Foundation, Furststaffing, Savant, Williams-Manny Insurance, SwedishAmerican Health System, Meridian Health Plans
Patron Plus Sponsor-Illinois Bank & Trust
Patron-Hinshaw & Culbertson
Benefactor Sponsors-Liebovich Steel & Aluminum Co., Liebovich Steel & Aluminum Co, Linda Niemiec, Rockford Orthopedic Associates, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Viking Chemical, Walgreens, Rockford Structures