2018 Spirit of Caring Recipients
Crusader Community Health Announces 2018 SPIRIT OF CARING RECIPIENTS
Crusader Community Health announced the recipients of the annual Spirit of Caring Awards at its 46th Anniversary EVENING OF CARING event, Friday, October 19, 2018 at Giovanni’s. The event, attended by 400+ supporters, recognized 46 years of caring at Crusader Community Health. The evening featured a Superhero theme, live and silent auctions, the annual Spirit of Caring Awards, as well as a commemorative t-shirt made by Rockford’s own Art Deli.
SPIRIT OF CARING AWARDS
The Crusader Community Health Foundation initiated the Spirit of Caring awards in 1992 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 was added in 2014. Crusader Community Health presented the 26th Spirit of Caring awards to: Shaunda Anderson, Elise Cadigan, Peter Provenzano and Donna Kirschke. The organization award recipient was YWCA Northwestern Ilinois. Proceeds from the event will support special programs for Crusader Community Health’s 57,000+ patients.
2018 Spirit of Caring Individual Recipients
Shaunda Anderson gives back in both the Dekalb and Rockford communities. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumnae Chapter and started the Lupus Flare Fighters of the Rockford Area. She has arranged several events and programs around lupus awareness. She works with KFACT and the Rockford Health Department on events for teens. Shaunda is a colon cancer survivor and started colon cancer awareness as a new mission.
Elise Cadigan can be described as a true servant leader, a fierce advocate and a strategic connector. Elise is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who is the owner of The Glenwood Center where she has practiced since 1980. Elise has been a member of the UIC School of Medicine Dean’s Action Council since 2012 and currently serves as the Chair. She has been an adjunct facility member since 1985 where she uses her role for training and consulting with students and other professionals. Elise holds leadership roles in multiple organizations including involvement with Rotary on the local, regional and international level. Elise has been active in the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for over 10 years and is a guiding light for the In Youth We Trust Program. Elise has received multiple awards for her dedication and service.
Peter Provenzano is the current chair of the Rock River Development Partnership, a non-profit organization he co-founded in 2009. This organization brings together businesses and people to create places like, the Rockford City Market, The North End Market, and the future Rockford City Indoor Market. He has been an advisor for the Northern Illinois Center for Non-Profit Excellence (NICNE) and is a member of their first Board of Directors. Peter is on the steering committee of Transform Rockford. He leads the Madison Street Corridor Improvement initiative. Previously, he was a trustee of Rockford University, President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association and Chair of the Small Business Advisory Committee for the General Services Administration. Peter is the owner and President and CEO of SupplyCore, Inc. The location of their headquarters in the heart of downtown Rockford speaks to his commitment to the revitalization of the urban center of Rockford. As the leader of SupplyCore, Peter promotes a corporate culture of civic involvement and volunteerism that has translated into thousands of employee volunteer hours and tens of thousands of dollars raised to improve Rockford.
2018 Spirit-of-the-Future Recipient
Danna Kirschke is involved in many non-profits throughout the community; Board of Directors of Pregnancy Care Center, Rockford Chamber, Community Advisory Committee for Mosaic, former Board Member RASA, and the Rockford Network for Professional Women. Danna also supports Beneath the Beard – Fatherhood Encouragement Project and KFACT. Danna and her family have hosted exchange students from all over the world for the past 7 summers. Danna is an insurance agent, fitness instructor and owner of Fancy Frills Custom Boutique. Danna has 7 children under the age of fourteen.
2018 Spirit of Caring Organizational Recipient
YWCA Northwestern Illinois is dedicated to the mission of “eliminating racism and empowering women”. Since 1891, or over 125 years, the YWCA’s work has been focused on making life better for women in the NW Illinois region. YWCA’s impact is felt throughout the Rockford community and into Boone, Jo Daviess , Stephenson and Winnebago counties reaching more than 12,000 women and families through programming each month. Some of their programs include; Child Care Solutions, La Voz Latina, Healthy Families Home Visiting Program, the Family Advocacy Program and the Immigrant Family Resource Program.
Crusader Community Health extends special thanks to its generous sponsors.
