SBL WomenConnected Reaches 20 Years of Giving
Sarah Bush Lincoln programs and projects received additional funding through the generosity of WomenConnected, a women’s giving circle within the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation. The group recently awarded $72,111 to nine areas within the Health System, bringing the group’s total giving to $907,000 in 20 years.
WomenConnected is comprised of 102 women from Coles and surrounding counties, as well as Georgia and Texas who, through their membership contributions, help fund and direct the expansion of services provided by Sarah Bush Lincoln.
The group is currently funding grants to programs including Peace Meal, SBL Dental Services, Healthy Communities, Center for Healthy Living scholarships, and SBL Psychiatry and Counseling and the Hospice House Campaign.
“Individually these generous women make a membership contribution. Contributions are then pooled together into a fund that provides grants resulting in significant support to our programs and services at Sarah Bush Lincoln. And the best thing is, members have a voice on which programs they want to support,” Amy Card, SBL Health Foundation Director, said. “I think each member takes pride in the fact that it’s rewarding to be a part of a larger effort that is truly impacting the lives of people across our service area. And for this amazing group of ladies to have given nearly a million dollars in just 20 years, impacting thousands of people, is remarkable. Sarah Bush Lincoln is so grateful for WomenConnected.”
Dental Services received $30,000 to provide restorative and preventive care to children with no or limited dental insurance and who are on the free or reduced school lunch program. The program serves more than 2,500 children in 66 area schools, in which 31 percent of the children have moderate signs and symptoms of gum infection and 35 percent require urgent treatment often with five or more cavities. WomenConnected will help 250 children. It also provided funds for oral hygiene kits, which include a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. They will be distributed to children in the program.
Dental Services Director and WomenConnected member Laura Bollan said, “With the help of WomenConnected, we are able to help thousands of children. Many of the children we work with don’t have a toothbrush, and sometimes they share one with a family member, so when they get their own dental kit, they are all smiles.” She added that the key to the success of the dental program is the restorative work funded by WomenConnected that happens in dental offices and on a mobile operatory.
“Children come to us in pain due to tooth decay and infection which impacts their young lives in so many ways, from inability to focus in school because of the pain, to dropping out of their social circle because they are embarrassed of their decaying teeth. Our goal is to provide the tools and education to prevent this from happening. The generosity of WomenConnected helps us do this,” Bollan said.
Other grant funds were awarded to Healthy Kids Education for fitness equipment for elementary schools that helps kids concentrate in the classroom, scholarships for those prescribed monitored medical exercise in the Center for Healthy Living, Peace Meal, and needs in outpatient behavioral health. The group also is paying its second installment of a $30,000 pledge to the Foundation’s Hospice House Campaign. The library will be named in honor of WomenConnected’s donation.
WomenConnected members include:
Carol Adams, Fatima Alao, Cathy Babbs, Ann Bacon, Vickie Baker, Ann Beck, Jessica 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 Coartney, Jeanne Cunningham, Jeanne Dau, Elena Davis, Kathy Davis, Jody Deters, Dixie Dickens, Kay Diepholz, Sheila Dively, Kriss Donovan-Gatrell, Samantha Eggleston, Lana Esker, Cindy Foster, Sharon Fox, Marisa Friscia, Carol Jo Fritts, Laura Glenn, Kelly Green, Nicole Guthridge, Barb Hall, Wendy Hastings, Susie Hay, Katie Hecksel, Patty Hedges, Heather Heicher, APRN, Mary Kay Hencken, Jodi Hildebrandt, Leslie Hill, Sasha Hollman, Kristen Holsapple, Barbara Hoppin, Maggie Huffman, Kristen Hutchinson, Carla Jackson, Linda Keeler, Peggy Kepp, Michele Kinder, APRN, Gloria Leitschuh, Karen Lindley, Kim Lockart, Joyce Madigan, Nancy Marlow, Christine Martin, Michelle Mathews, APRN, Tracey McCord, Annmarie McDonagh, Tess Melvin, Becky Metzger, Sandy Miller, Melanie Mills, Jodi Morrisey, APRN, Carol Myerscough, Doreen Nelms, Nancy Nguyen, Cheryl Noll, Diana Oakley, APRN, Jenny Osborn, Marcia Parker, Kirsten Pentzien, Erica Perrino, Linda Perry, Patty Peterson, Bernie Pluard, 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, Margie Swensen, Colleen Swick, Nancy Swits, Leslie Taggart, APRN, Edie Terwilliger, Kim Uphoff, Linda Wente, Janet White, Mary Lou Wild, Nancy Wurtsbaugh, Brooke Zerrusen, Jone Zieren
For more information about WomenConnected, contact Amy Card at 217-258-2511.