The management team at Community Howard Regional Health – and all leaders throughout the Community Health Network – invested in Kokomo Schools students by donating 24 boxes of school supplies they collected during a management meeting.
The Executive Leadership Team recently presented their donation at the loading docks of Community Howard Regional Health as the school supplies awaited delivery to Kokomo Schools buildings. The 24 boxes stacked on a pallet contained 112 notebooks, 35 pencil boxes, 55 packs of crayons, 25 packs of markers, 32 packages of paper, 270 tab dividers, 40 calculators, 80 packs of pens, 40 packs of highlighters, 81 glue sticks, 56 binders, 170 folders, 75 pencil packs, 20 boxes of tissues, 10 bottles of hand sanitizer, 104 erasers, and several miscellaneous items.
“The Kokomo School Corporation Department of Social and Student Services is so thankful and appreciative that the Community Health Network – including Community Howard Regional Health – chose to support our students with school supplies,” Cynthia Evans, Director of Social and Student Services for Kokomo Schools, explained. “This generous donation will help fulfill many student needs in the district, and will directly affect our students’ academic success. Thank you so very much.”
Mrs. Evans added, “Through this donation, students in preschool through 12th grade at Kokomo Schools will receive needed supplies when any staff member or parent/guardian contacts their building principal or school social worker.”
Community Health Network managers donated the supplies during a quarterly leadership meeting. Each of these meetings contains a service component, which aligns with the company’s Serve360° program. This program was created in 2011 as a way to support Community Health Network’s mission by engaging with meaningful volunteer opportunities. The program was named to reflect the way Community Health Network can complete the circle by collectively giving back to the individuals and neighborhoods that gave birth to the network.
“Serve360° is an important philosophy within Community Health Network,” Joe Hooper, President and CEO of Community Howard Regional Health, explained. “It is a real priority for us to be a part of the communities we serve. In fact, it is a requirement for all leaders – from the CEO down – to volunteer at one or more service events in the community each year.”
Locally, Community Howard Regional Health leaders have scooped ice cream at the Strawberry Festival, built picnic tables for local non-profits, completed cleaning projects in the community, and wrapped Christmas presents for families in need. In addition to those service opportunities, Community Howard employees have conducted mobile health screenings at events throughout Kokomo. Now, hospital officials can add assisting Kokomo Schools students to their growing list of completed service projects.
Kokomo School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hauswald is thankful to partner with Community Howard Regional Health, and the Community Health Network, to benefit Kokomo Schools students.
“Community partnerships help create the quality programming and opportunities that Kokomo School Corporation strives to provide each and every day,” Dr. Hauswald explained. “I greatly appreciate the support Community Howard Regional Health plays in the education of youth in our Kokomo community. This effort, and countless other initiatives provided by Community Howard, truly make a difference in our schools, and in the lives of our students. I can’t thank the Community Health Network, including the Community Howard management team, enough for this particular donation, as well as for their ongoing support.”