CentraCare Foundation Honors La Gratitude Award Recipients at Spicer Event
Left to right: Ken Holmen, MD, President and CEO of CentraCare; Holly Gulden, Vice President of CentraCare Foundation; Allen (Bert) Stanley, RHP; Deb Peterson, MD; Cindy Firkins Smith, MD; Chip Martin-Chaffee, MD; and Kelly O'Farrell, CentraCare Foundation Board Chair
In a heartwarming celebration of generosity and dedication, CentraCare hosted its annual La Gratitude event on Thursday, May 8, in Spicer. This special evening brought together donors, physicians, and community leaders from the Willmar, Redwood Falls, Benson, and Paynesville areas to honor their unwavering support for CentraCare and the health of patients and their families.
Board Chair Kelly O'Farrell emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "It's important for us to honor the people who have given their time and talents to CentraCare, and to let people know why that's essential."
During the evening, three prestigious La Gratitude Awards were presented to local recipients:
Cindy Firkins Smith, MD
Service to the Foundation Award which recognizes benefactors for their work, commitment, and generosity as philanthropists to CentraCare.
Allen (Bert) Stanley, RPH
Rising Stars Award which recognizes benefactors for their dedication, commitment, involvement, and philanthropy to CentraCare.
Deb Peterson, MD
Caduceus Award which recognizes a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and humanitarian and/or charitable medical efforts to their community.
"These are the people who buoy us up at CentraCare. They are the rock-solid base of who we are, and without them, we would not be nearly as successful. We are grateful for their time and energy," said Holly Gulden, Vice President of CentraCare Foundation, highlighted the importance of the honorees.
"This celebration embodies the true spirit of philanthropy and is about building bridges and relationships," added Ken Holmen, MD, President and CEO of CentraCare. "The most important part of this evening is acknowledging people's commitment and what we share together. La Gratitude is about raising up the conversation about how we improve our community."
Learn more about La Gratitude, including descriptions of each award, previous award recipients, and how the generosity of benefactors makes a difference in our community.
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