LMH Health Foundation announced the winners of the 17th Annual Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award at its annual meeting on February 29, 2024. This award recognizes people and organizations that have made significant contributions to LMH health and community care.
The recipients were community members Becky Dick, Michael Miller, Shari Rayburn, and John Spurgeon.
During the 54 years since the foundation was establishedth The annual meeting featured further celebrations, including the announcement of nearly $3 million in philanthropic support from donors for patient care and new technologies right here at home in 2023. Additionally, over the past two years, more than $7 million in donor gifts have been earmarked specifically for the expansion and renovation of his LMH Health Cancer Center, which is scheduled to begin later this spring.
“The generosity of our community members strengthens LMH Health and our mission to provide excellent care for all,” said LMH Health Foundation Executive Director and LMH Health Vice President of Strategy and Communications says Rebecca Smith. “Through the support of our donors, we carry on the spirit of Elizabeth Watkins. Her founding gift ensures that no one, regardless of race, physical, social, or economic condition, It ensured that no one was excluded from quality health care.”
Let's take a closer look at Watkins' winners.
becky dick
Becky Dick has volunteered for 10 years, including as chair and executive committee member of the LMH Health Foundation Board of Directors. She and her husband, Gary, have been strong supporters of LMH Health and important health initiatives throughout Douglas County and in their local community, the City of Baldwin.
“We feel it is important to have a representative who lives outside of Lawrence on the board to share information and challenges from a small town perspective,” Dick said. “And we choose to support community hospitals philanthropically, because everyone deserves access to the best health care available, no matter who they are or their ability to pay. It’s from.”
The Dick family has been extremely supportive of the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion and renovation, the Help & Healing Fund, the LMH Health West Campus, and patient-centered technology. Investments in patient-centric initiatives through technology such as the MAKO orthopedic robot have transformed patient care.
“We are committed to making our communities happy and healthy places to live, work and play,” Dick said.
michael miller
According to Michael Miller, the volunteer motto at LMH Health Cancer Center is to “pamper the patient.” Please support your staff. ”
“I try to make the patients as comfortable as possible, and I support the staff by doing tasks that allow them to spend more time with the patients,” Miller said.
He chose to volunteer at LMH Health because he felt he could still do some good for others. After 18 years and more than 6,000 volunteer hours, he has accomplished that and more. Miller, who was named the 2022 LMH Health Volunteer of the Year, trains new volunteers at LMH, mentors student volunteers, and remains in contact with many students years after her time at the hospital. I am.
He and his wife, Pat, believe in the hospital's mission to provide excellent health care to all members of the community and support this mission through expansion and renovation of the Cancer Center and philanthropy to the Help & Healing Fund. I've been doing it. The Help & Healing Fund aims to provide medicines, medical equipment, supplies, food and transportation to patients in need after hospitalization, which is essential for patients who need support to make a full recovery.
Shari Rayburn
Shari Rayburn shares her cancer story and 23 years of survival with other patients receiving treatment at LMH Health Cancer Center. Her Ms. Rayburn enjoys making each patient's journey to cancer treatment as easy as possible, whether it's offering a warm blanket or a sip of orange juice.
“The patients are very grateful and very positive,” Rayburn said. “I want to do everything I can to help them.”
She and her late husband, Don, supported the cancer center's expansion and renovation plans, which are scheduled to begin this spring. Her cancer center enhancements will reflect a sense of comfort and healing in the renovated space, as well as the great volunteer spirit she brings to her time with patients.
Rayburn has been volunteering at the cancer center for 11 years. She is also instrumental in training new volunteers, organizing the Holiday Her Poinsettia Sale, and serves on both the Special Projects and Scholarship Committees as the LMH Health Volunteer Board Executive Director.
John Spurgeon
After John Spurgeon retired from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, he decided to visit the LMH Health Volunteers' office to learn more about contributing to society. Almost 12 years later, he has logged more than 1,500 hours of volunteer service at his LMH Health Cancer Center and also served on the LMH Health Volunteers Finance Committee.
“The cancer center has extended my life,” Spurgeon said. “Right now, Kara and I are planning a gift.” [to LMH Health] Every year. It's a win-win situation. ”
Spurgeon, a three-time cancer survivor, and his wife, Carla, have also been instrumental in the cancer center's expansion plans. Once completed in mid-2025, the renovations will create a more comfortable environment for patients to heal during treatment.
For the time being, Spurgeon is stepping away from her volunteer responsibilities as she battles a new cancer diagnosis. He continues to serve on his LMH Health Volunteer Finance Committee and is looking forward to returning to his volunteer role at the Cancer Center and delivering much-needed refreshments during patient visits.
