Sarah Bush Lincoln WomenConnected, a women’s giving circle within the SBL Health Foundation, reached its $1 million giving milestone supporting community programs. The group awarded $59,662 in grants to six programs and projects within the Health System at its annual meeting April 16, bringing its total donation to more than $1,015,000.
WomenConnected is comprised of 109 women from throughout the region, as well as Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee who, through their membership contributions, help fund and direct the expansion of services provided by Sarah Bush Lincoln.
The group awarded grants to programs including Peace Meal, SBL Dental Services, Healthy Communities, and the Center for Healthy Living. The awards will be available in fiscal year ‘25.
The awards included:
- Peace Meal Senior Nutrition Program - $13,893 to help fund more than 1,000 home-delivered meals to individuals who cannot afford the $4 suggested donation. The program operates at a deficit of nearly $300,000 and is subsidized by the Health Center and through donations.
- SBL Dental Services - $33,893 to help provide preventive and restorative dental care to 459 children; and $4,311 for oral hygiene kits for 4,000 children. This program operates at a deficit of nearly $500,000.
- Healthy Communities - $1,000 for zones of regulation equipment to help up to 600 children deal with emotions and understand how their actions impact others.
- Center for Healthy Living - $5,365 to provide 29 partial scholarships to assist with the costs related to medical exercise and weight loss program as prescribed by providers.
Amy Card, SBL Health Foundation director, explained that individually members make a membership contribution that are pooled together into a fund that provides grants resulting in significant support to our programs and services at Sarah Bush Lincoln. “The best thing is, members have a voice on which programs they want to support.”
She added, “This is a particularly special year for WomenConnected. We began 20 years ago and it has grown to be one of the largest healthcare-focused women’s giving circles in the nation. This year we reached cumulative donations of more than $1 million. This is truly a special group of women who care about improving the lives of people in our community.”
Card noted that few, if any other hospital systems, has a similar group or a group of nearly 100 members.
WomenConnected members include: Carol Adams, Dr. Fatima Alao, Cathy Babbs, Ann Bacon, Vickie Baker, Ann Beck, Jessi Bergfeld, Lynn Berner, *Sally Bock, Laura Bollan, Amy Borntrager, Catherine Bovard, Mary Bovard, Alex Boyer, *Judy Brown, Jen Bullock, Kim Burgess, APRN; Amanda Burton, Amy Card, Beth Catt, Sierra Courtney, Dr. Lori Cudone, Jeanne Cunningham, Jeanne Dau, Elena Davis, Kathy Davis, Jody Deters, Dixie Dickens, Kay Diepholz, Sarah Dirks, *Sheila Dively, Kriss Donovan-Gatrell, Karen Dyer, Samantha Eggleston, Cindy Foster, Sharon Fox, Dr. Marisa Friscia, Carol Jo Fritts, Laura Glenn, Kelly Green, Nicole Guthridge, Barb Hall, Molly Hastings, Wendy Hastings, Susie Hay, Dr. Katie Hecksel, *Patty Hedges, Heather Heicher, APRN; Mary Kay Hencken, Jodi Hildebrandt, Leslie Hill, *Barbara Hoppin, Maggie Huffman, Kristen Hutchinson, Carla Jackson, Linda Keeler, Peggy Kepp, Michele Kinder, APRN; Dr. Gloria Leitschuh, Karen Lindley, Kim Lockart, *Joyce Madigan, Nancy Marlow, Christine Martin, Michelle Mathews, APRN; Tracey McCord, Dr. Annmarie McDonagh, *Tess Melvin, Becky Metzger, Sandy Miller, *Melanie Mills, Jody Morrisey, APRN, Carol Myerscough, Doreen Nelms, Nancy Nguyen, Cheryl Noll, Diana Oakley, APRN; Jenny Osborn, Marcia Parker, Kirsten Pentzien, Dr. Erica Perrino, Linda Perry, Patty Peterson, Bernie Pluard, Joann Pratt, Barbara Quinlan, Allyson Richards, Jane Rincker, Jenn Roberts, Debbie Saddoris, Brianne Schilling, Nancy Schilling, Denise Smith, Karen Smith, Ruth Smith, Debbie Sparks, Erica Stollard, Jenny Swearingen, Jennifer Swensen, Margie Swensen, Colleen Swick, Nancy Swits, Leslie Taggart, APRN; *Edie Terwilliger, Kim Uphoff, Linda Wente, Janet White, Mary Lou Wild, Nancy Wurtsbaugh, Brooke Zerrusen, and Jone Zieren.
*Charter Member since 2003.
For more information about WomenConnected or to join, contact Card at 217 258-2511 or acard@sblhs.org.