LMH Health Foundation honors those that support community healthcare
LMH Health Foundation announced the recipients of the 17th annual Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award during its annual meeting on February 29, 2024. The award celebrates people and organizations who have provided significant service to LMH Health and community healthcare.
Honorees were community members Becki Dick, Michael Miller, Shari Raybern and John Spurgeon.
During the Foundation’s 54th annual meeting, additional celebrations included the announcement of nearly $3 million dollars in philanthropic support from donors in 2023 toward patient care and new technologies right here at home. In addition, over the last two years more than $7 million dollars in donor-directed gifts were designated specifically toward the expansion and renovation to the LMH Health Cancer Center, anticipated to begin later this spring.
“The generosity of our community members strengthens LMH Health and its mission to provide exceptional care for all,” said Rebecca Smith, LMH Health Foundation executive director and LMH Health vice president of strategy and communications. “Through donor support, we carry on the spirit of Elizabeth Watkins – whose founding gift ensured that no person shall be excluded from quality healthcare on account of race, physical, social or financial condition.”
Here’s a closer look at the Watkins honorees:
BECKI DICK
Becki Dick has volunteered for the LMH Health Foundation Board for 10 years, including serving as president, executive committee member and more. She and her husband, Gary, have been strong advocates of LMH Health and important health initiatives throughout Douglas County and in their home community of Baldwin City.
“I feel it’s important to have a representative on the board who lives outside the city of limits of Lawrence to share information and challenges from a small-town perspective,” said Dick. “And we choose to philanthropically support our community hospital because everyone deserves to have access to the best healthcare available, regardless of who they are or their ability to pay.”
The Dick family has been incredibly supportive of the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion and renovation, Help & Healing Fund, LMH Health West Campus and patient-centered technology. Their investment in patient-focused initiatives through technology such as the MAKO orthopedic surgical robot has been transformative for patient care.
“We are invested in making our community a happy and healthy place to live, work and play,” said Dick.
MICHAEL MILLER
According to Michael Miller, the motto of the volunteers in the LMH Health Cancer Center is, ‘Pamper the patient; support the staff.’
“I try to help patients feel a little more comfortable, and I support the staff by doing tasks that enable them to spend more time with our patients,” said Miller.
He chose to volunteer at LMH Health because he felt he could still do some good for other people. After 18 years and more than 6,000 hours in volunteer time, he has accomplished that and so much more. Named the 2022 LMH Health Volunteer of the Year, Miller trains new volunteers and mentors student volunteers at LMH, staying in touch with many students for years past their time at the hospital.
He and his wife, Pat, believe in the hospital’s mission to provide excellent healthcare for all people in our community, and they have supported this mission through philanthropic contributions for the Cancer Center expansion and renovation and the Help & Healing Fund. Designed to provide medication, medical equipment, supplies, food or transportation for patients in need following a hospital stay, the Help & Healing Fund is vital for those needing assistance in making a full recovery.
SHARI RAYBERN
Shari Raybern shares her personal cancer experience — and 23 years of survivorship — with other patients receiving care in the LMH Health Cancer Center. Whether it’s assisting with warm blankets or providing a sip of orange juice, Raybern enjoys being able to make each patient’s cancer journey as easy as possible.
“The patients are so appreciative and super positive,” said Raybern. “I want to do all I can to help them.”
She and her late husband, Don, supported the expansion and renovations planned for the Cancer Center, which are slated to begin this spring. Enhancements to the Cancer Center will reflect a sense of comfort and healing in the renovated space — similar to the tremendous volunteer spirit she brings to her time with patients.
Raybern has volunteered in the Cancer Center for 11 years. She is also instrumental in training new volunteers, organizing the holiday poinsettia sale, and serving on both the special projects and scholarship committees as the member-at-large for the LMH Health Volunteers Board of Directors.
JOHN SPURGEON
After he retired from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, John Spurgeon thought he would check in at the LMH Health Volunteers office and learn more about giving back. Nearly 12 years later, he has logged more than 1,500 hours of volunteering in the LMH Health Cancer Center and has served on the finance committee for the LMH Health Volunteers.
“The Cancer Center prolonged my life,” said Spurgeon, “Now, Karla and I have a plan to make a gift [to LMH Health] every year. It’s a win-win situation.”
A three-time cancer survivor, Spurgeon and his wife, Karla, also have contributed toward the expansion planned for the Cancer Center. When completed in mid-2025, renovations will create a more comfortable environment for patients to heal during their treatment.
For the time being, Spurgeon has stepped away from his volunteer responsibilities as he battles yet another cancer diagnosis. He continues to serve on the finance committee for the LMH Health Volunteers and looks forward to returning to his volunteer role in the Cancer Center, bringing a much-needed snack to patients during their visit.
