State Farm retirees honored for volunteer contributions to Oaklawn

July 12, 2016

State Farm retirees honored for volunteer contributions to Oaklawn Hospital

 MARSHALL – Thirteen area residents who are State Farm retirees were honored recently for their contributions to Oaklawn Hospital through the State Farm Companies Foundation’s matching gift program.

Together, the group brought in $6,500 in donated funds from State Farm – money the hospital intends to use for its continuing programs, according to Oaklawn Executive Director of Development and Community/Legislative Affairs Richard Lindsey.

Through its Good Neighbor Grant Program, the State Farm Companies Foundation awards a $500 grant on behalf of each associate who volunteers a minimum of 40 hours per calendar year to an eligible nonprofit organization.

The State Farm retirees from the Marshall area who volunteered at least 40 hours each during the 2015 calendar year are Sandra Anderson, Caren Bell, Dorothy Burrows, Nancy Crapo, Karen Earl, Francis Giesen, Barbara Hookway, Victoria Laupp, Carlene Maisner, Cheryl McAuliffe, Becky Newhouse, Dixie Pardoe and Minnie Short.

“We’re immensely grateful for the wonderful spirit of generosity of caring that these fine people and their corporate friends have demonstrated by helping Oaklawn, by giving of themselves so selflessly,” said Richard C. Lindsey Jr, Oaklawn’s Executive Director of Development and Community/Legislative Affairs.

“Engagement between the hospital and volunteers such as these former State Farm employees is essential to the continuing mission of the hospital,” Lindsey said.

“I volunteered because I like to help others,” said Anderson, who has worked with the Oaklawn Auxiliary by staffing the hospital’s information desk and preparing stuffed animals to comfort sick children.

Anderson’s words echo those of other volunteers who expressed their willingness to assist the hospital and their desire to serve patients in need.

“I do it all to help people,” said Crapo, who volunteers in the hospital’s oncology unit. “And it’s just a plus that State Farm contributes money like this. I think it’s great, and it’s all worth it – just to help the people there.”

Maisner also volunteers in the oncology unit, and called her work there rewarding.

“The people enjoy having somebody there to talk to, and you help them. That’s what I’m there for – to help them.” Maisner said.

Hookway said she was motivated to volunteer at Oaklawn because of the services the hospital has provided to her over the years.

“I’m paying back because of what they did for me all those years,” she said.

“It’s very enjoyable working here and helping people,” said McAuliffe, a five-year Oaklawn volunteer who now chairs the hospital’s blood drives. “I really enjoy it myself, and we really appreciate [the work of the other volunteers].  It goes to a good cause.”

Such volunteer support “represents the tie between the community of Marshall and the mission this hospital plays in the community,” Lindsey added. “The two are tied together and support each other – and these are the faces of that support.”

State Farm is a family of insurance and financial services companies that serves tens of millions of customers in the United States. For more than 30 years, the State Farm Companies Foundation’s matching gift program and the Good Neighbor Grant Program have helped State Farm associates give back to the communities where they live and work and through the gift of their time.

During the life of the program, the foundation has provided more than $65 million in financial support, foundation officials said.