MED Foundation honors 2023 Outstanding Friend of the Year at annual Friends of the Foundation event
Posted on February 7, 2024
The Medical, Educational and Development (MED) Foundation of Mercer Health awarded the Walter and Evelyn Braun Family the 2023 Outstanding Friends of the Year award at the annual Friends of the MED Foundation dinner on February 4, 2024.
“The children of the Walter and Evelyn Braun family generously donated $1 million to the MED Foundation to be used for extensive renovation to and expansion of Mercer Health’s Childbirth Center,” Deb Hemmelgarn, Director of the MED Foundation and Volunteer Services, said. “This past summer, the Braun children presented the donation on behalf of their parents. Additionally, their donation, has allowed others to recognize the need, with additional donors coming forward to support what we are calling our ‘Delivering on a Promise’ campaign. A successful campaign will ensure adequate funds to initiate the project, hopefully soon.”
After dinner, John Yoder, President of the MED Foundation Board of Directors, also shared an overview of the activities of the MED Foundation over the past year including the Charity Ball, the Golf Outing, the scholarships awarded from funds generated at the golf outing and the growth of the foundation over the past year.
Jon Dingledine, Mercer Health Chief Financial and Operations Officer, provided an organization update. Renee Bruns, native of Maria Stein, was the feature speaker who shared inspiring stories as a wheelchair traveler. She has visited all 7 continents, 124 countries and is a Guinness World Record holder. Learn more about Renee at reneebruns.net.
Previous Outstanding Friends of the MED Foundation award recipients include:
Mercer County Elks (2022)
Bob & Sharon Hibner (2021)
Dolores Cron & the late Mauri Cron (2020)
Connie Hein (2019)
Jack Hartings & Chris Mohler, Building on a Promise Co-Chairs (2018)
Maurice and Mary Ann Harting (2017)
VJ and Marilyn Westerheide (2016)
Remer Holdings, Inc. (2015)
Tom Sanderell (2014)
Richard “Red” Luken (2013)
Coldwater Machine (2012)
Francis and Joan Pax (2011)
HCF Management, Inc. (2010)
Mercer Health Volunteer Association (2009)
“The priority of the MED Foundation is to provide for and support the future of healthcare services in our community. With the goal of a successful Delivering on a Promise campaign, 2024 will look to continue that mission. The support of the community is always appreciated and I would love to talk to anyone that has any interest in the Delivering on a Promise campaign and the Childbirth Center project,” Hemmelgarn concludes.
