Rotarians, health care providers rise to Rotary’s challenge
By Dan Nixon
Rotary International News - 22 May 2008
From left: McKay; Sherman Health Board Chair Rick Jakle; Sherman Hospital Board Chair Terry Dunning; Wilkinson; and Provena Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation Board Member Jim Flahaven, Executive Director Bonnie Emberton, and Development Associate Sister June Does
Two Chicago-area health care providers joined the Rotary Club of Elgin, Illinois, USA, in helping to meet Rotary’s US$100 Million Challenge. The Elgin club raised $40,000, and Provena Saint Joseph Hospital and Sherman Health each contributed $5,000. Elgin club president Michael McKay presented a check for $50,000 to RI President Wilfrid Wilkinson at the club’s 10 March meeting.
“While Provena Saint Joseph Hospital is deeply committed to the communities we are privileged to serve as a faith-based, mission-driven health care organization, our commitment to provide healing and hope transcends far beyond the Elgin area,” said Bill Brown,president and CEO of Provena Health’s northern Illinois region. “It is an honor to partner with highly regarded organizations like Rotary International and Sherman Health on such a worthy cause.”
“Rotary International’s polio eradication effort has been one of the great success stories in world health,” said Rick Floyd, president of Sherman Health, a network of suburban Chicago medical facilities. “We are pleased to join with Provena Saint Joseph Hospital in contributing to complete victory over polio.”
Earlier this year, McKay approached Brown and Floyd with the objective of creating a partnership to help support Rotary’s challenge. RI is matching the joint contribution at 50 cents on the dollar through PolioPlus Partners for a total of $75,000.
“The Elgin partnership that has formed to assist this global objective is a true testimony of the concern and compassion of both Provena Saint Joseph Hospital and Sherman Health for the health of individuals worldwide,” McKay said.
Wilkinson thanked the Elgin club and the health care providers for their generous support, and he vowed that Rotary is committed to the fight against polio, adding, “I think the end is getting very close.”