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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2015)
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 LOCAL WEATHER GSMC foundation celebrates 30 years of giving back BY MAEGAN MURRAY HERMISTON HERALD In the past 30 years, few organizations have given more funds back to the regional Hermis- ton community than what is now Good Shepherd Community Health Foun- dation. Through the years, the foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in student scholarships, health-related grants and awards to organizations and residents from Board- man to Hermiston to Irri- gon. The purpose of the foundation, Executive Director Bob Green said, is to help people because it is the right thing to do. “It is our local commu- nity that we want to bene- fit,” he said. “Many have heard about the founda- tion but don’t know as to what it has given or what we do … There are many organizations that give back to the local commu- nity, but few will have the impact that the founda- tion and the hospital will have in the eyes of the community.” START OF SOMETHING GREAT Green said, up until last year, the Good Shep- herd Community Health Foundation was actually two different organiza- tions that operated par- allel to each other: the Good Shepherd Medical Foundation, started in 1985, and the Good Shep- herd Community Health Foundation, started in 1995. In 2014, the two foun- dations merged to create the Good Shepherd Com- munity Health Founda- tion. STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS One of the biggest ways the foundation gives back to the local commu- nity is through a variety of scholarships meant to encourage people to pursue or continue their education in the medical field. Last year, alone, the organization awarded approximately $30,500 in medical scholarships, which were granted to more than just recent high school graduates. “Some of these were high school graduates entering college for their first year, but some of them were already col- lege students,” Green said. “Some of them are employees of our hospital who are receiving extend- ed training to benefit our local community in the medical field.” Green said last year’s scholarship funds benefit- ed 28 people attending 22 different universities and colleges. All of the ben- eficiaries were from the region, including from Hermiston, Boardman, Ir- rigon, Umatilla, Echo and Stanfield. “The board does not give scholarships to peo- ple outside of our local area,” Green said. “Every- thing goes back to benefit our local students.” GRANTS AND AWARDS The foundation has also granted funds for a variety of projects and to non-profit organiza- tions looking to make the Hermiston region a better place. Last year, the founda- tion provided more than $71,500 in grants and more than $51,800 to nonprofits working to im- prove Hermiston and the regional community. In the past, funds have gone to a variety of proj- ects, including up to $100,000 to the Hermis- ton School District Ken- nison Field construction. “That whole complex is marvelous for our area, and the foundation was a part of that,” Green said. The foundation has also awarded money to purchase and build new playground equipment for area schools, as well as money to support dif- ferent Good Shepherd ed- ucation programs and ser- vices, including the start up of the hospital’s Care Van program, which pro- vides free transportation to community members to and from their medical appointments. “We were one of the original organizations that helped fund them to help get them their first van,” Green said. The foundation also works to provide funds for treatment of the un- der-served, Green said. SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS The Good Shepherd Community Health Foun- dation also runs a variety RISURJUDPVWKDWEHQH¿WWKH health and welfare of the community, Green said. One of the foundation’s programs is the car-dona- tion program, where people who have the current title of their vehicle can donate their vehicle, running or not, at no cost. “We contract with an or- ganization who will come and pick up your vehicle, take your title, and will give you a tax receipt,” Green said. The receipt, according to IRS standards, is good for a tax deduction of $500. If the car is worth more than $500, the organization will send the original owner a receipt for the difference of the value. The foundation also started an honor tree pro- gram last year, where peo- ple can honor a loved one by donating to the founda- tion, which places a plaque along the hospital walking trail paired with a particular tree. The foundation also started up what is known as “Doctor’s Day” two years ago, where, for a donation, people can honor a phy- sician who has provided them with great service. The doctor is provided with D FHUWL¿FDWLRQ RI DSSUHFLD- tion. The same can be done through the foundation’s “Grateful Patient” program where an employee will be UHZDUGHG ZLWK D FHUWL¿FDWH if a patient makes a dona- tion in their name. “These programs can run all year,” Green said. “The doctor’s day usually comes to a close at the end of April, but people have been known to donate well after that.” The foundation has also participated in the Festival of Trees, which is a part- nership with the Hermiston Kiwanis Club each year to raise money for their orga- nizations. The foundation also hosts a “Scramble for Scholarships” golf tour- nament, which takes place every year in June to raise money for foundation scholarships. This year, Green said the tournament is sched- uled June 12. Last year, the event, despite miserable weather conditions, raised more than $17,000 for med- ical scholarships. The foundation will have a 30th anniversary celebration later this year, with the time and date to be announced. For more information about the foundation, or to donate, contact Green at 541-667-3419 or email him at bgreen@gshealth. org. Today's Weather Local 5-Day Forecast Wed Thu 4/1 Fri 4/2 60/36 Sat 4/3 61/36 Sun 4/4 63/38 4/5 60/36 58/37 Except for a few af- ternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High around 60F. Abundant sunshine. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 30s. Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the upper 30s. A few clouds. Highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 30s. More clouds than sun. Highs in the up- per 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Sunrise Sunset 6:37 AM 7:25 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:35 AM 7:26 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:33 AM 7:27 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:31 AM 7:29 PM Sunrise Sunset 6:30 AM 7:30 PM Oregon At A Glance Portland 56/39 Salem 57/36 Eugene 56/36 Medford 55/33 Pendleton 55/36 Hermiston 60/36 La Grande 48/32 Bend 40/19 Ontario 56/30 Burns 46/26 Klamath Falls 48/24 Area Cities City Albany Ashland Astoria Baker City Bend Brookings Burns Coos Bay Corvallis Eugene Hi 57 53 52 47 40 57 46 53 57 56 Lo Cond. 37 rain 33 pt sunny 39 rain 27 rain 19 pt sunny 40 pt sunny 26 mst sunny 40 pt sunny 34 rain 36 rain City Florence Grants Pass Hermiston John Day Klamath Falls La Grande Lakeview Lincoln City Mcminnville Medford Hi 53 55 60 44 48 48 47 52 56 55 Lo Cond. 39 rain 35 pt sunny 36 mst sunny 29 pt sunny 24 mst sunny 32 pt sunny 24 pt sunny 43 rain 35 rain 33 mst sunny City Newport Pendleton Portland Redmond Roseburg Salem Springfield The Dalles Tillamook Vale Hi 51 55 56 49 56 57 54 58 53 55 Lo Cond. 43 pt sunny 36 mst sunny 39 rain 27 mst sunny 37 rain 36 rain 36 rain 41 mst sunny 40 rain 31 mst sunny City Houston Los Angeles Miami Minneapolis New York Hi 82 73 83 75 51 Lo Cond. 69 t-storm 55 mst sunny 68 sunny 45 t-storm 38 pt sunny City Phoenix San Francisco Seattle St. Louis Washington, DC Hi 86 66 55 76 60 Lo Cond. 57 sunny 49 windy 41 rain 59 sunny 42 mst sunny National Cities City Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Hi 79 45 66 81 74 Lo Cond. 57 pt sunny 32 sunny 52 pt sunny 66 cloudy 39 cloudy Moon Phases UV Index Wed 4/1 First Full Last New Mar 27 Apr 4 Apr 12 Apr 18 ©2010 American Profile Hometown Content Service Thu 4/2 Fri Sat 4/3 4/4 Sun 4/5 4 5 5 5 4 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate The UV Index is measured on a 0 - 11 number scale, with a higher UV Index showing the need for greater skin protection. 0 11 For Herald news, advertising or subscription information: • call 541-567-6457 • email info @hermistonherald.com • stop by our offices at 333 E. Main St. • or visit us online at www.hermistonherald.com NEWS IN BRIEF Oregon East Symphony fundraiser on tap The Oregon East Sym- phony, based in Pendleton, will be presenting its annu- al Spring Fling fundraiser at 6 p.m. April 10 at Sno Road Winery in Echo. The event includes live music, a barbecue dinner, compli- mentary glass of wine and live auction. Auction items include vacation get-aways, works by local artists and a seat on stage during a symphony concert. Funds raised go toward maintain- ing a strong community orchestra and Playing For Keeps, the Symphony’s K-12 classical music edu- cation program. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased DW WKH V\PSKRQ\ RI¿FH Corrections Armchair Books or Brown- PaperTickets.com. Templo Fe church hosting Easter event The Templo Fe, Espe- ranza Y Amor Iglesia De Dios church will hold an Easter event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Victo- ry Square Park. Pastor Hector Ramirez said the event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities and games, with prizes awarded for some. The event, which is be- ing sponsored by Wal-Mart, Fiesta Foods and Shearer’s Foods in Hermiston, will also feature hot dogs, chips, drinks and more. The event is free and open to anyone who is in- terested in attending. It is the policy of the Hermiston Herald to correct errors as soon as they are discovered. Incorrect information will be corrected on Page 2A. Errors commited on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections also are noted in the online versions of our stories. Please contact the editor at editor@hermistonherald.com or call (541) 564-4533 with issues about this policy or to report errors. 5K RUN, 5K WALK, 10K RUN, KID'S BUTTE SCOOT All races begin & end at Hermiston's Butte Park DRAWINGS • FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Online registration & race information at WWW.BUTTECHALLENGE.COM REGISTER ONLINE BY APRIL 23RD TO ORDER A CUSTOM TECHNICAL RACE T-SHIRT All proceeds benefit THE HERMISTON CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM Thank you for your suppor t!