The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation held the Fifteenth Annual Charitable Golf Tournament at Houston Municipal Golf Course on Saturday, June 12.

Thirty-seven teams participated in the 18-hole two-person scramble, and nearly $23,000 was raised for the Foundation by the tournament.

The tournament had tee times at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., with cash prizes awarded to the top three teams in four categories. In addition, a hole-in-one contest on hole five was nearly paid out as golfers had the opportunity to win $10,000 sponsored by Justin Shelby-State Farm Insurance.

Winners of the Championship Flight were Justin Brown and Lee Smith, sponsored by the Houston Herald, who shot a 56. Finishing second were Dr. Stephen Hawkins and Gary York, backed by TCMH-Cabool Clinic, with a 58, and third place winners Jeff Williams and Richard Williams, supported by Security Bank of the Ozarks, scored a 59.

A-Flight winners Stetson Evetts and Justin Brown, sponsored by Evans Funeral Home, took home first place with a 66, followed by Ron Murray and Larry Barton, supported by BPJ Insurance, with a 66.  Mike Medwid and Eric Hawkins, backed by TCMH-Cabool Clinic, came in third place with a 67.

Winners of the B-Flight were Johnnie Young and Shea Wood, funded by Dent County Overhead Doors, with a 73.  Finishing second were Danny Backus and Buck Wade, sponsored by Signs On The Side, with a 73. Rawly Gorman and Jesse Sullins, hosted by Town and Country Bank, with a 74, came in third.

C-Flight winners were Airika Wiseman and Devin Wiseman, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, with a 77. Kenny Reynolds and Richard Reynolds, backed by Scott Lindsey – Texas County Sheriff, finished second with a 78, and Dr. Doug Crase and Jim Hawkins, funded by TCMH-Licking Clinic, shot a 79 for third place.

Jackie Smith and Brian Sullins won the longest putt contest, and big hitters Gary York and Jackie Smith were the longest drive winners.

Hole seven played host to “Vegas Par-3,” closest to the pin contest sponsored by Piney River Ford. Claiming the top spot was Lee Smith.

“The Big Advantage,” supported by Online Metal Supply, allowed golfers to move closer to the green on hole four. The game allowed the golfers to throw one in close and compete in the closest to the pin contest.

Patrick Carr took advantage and landed within feet of the hole to claim the prize.  Having a laser-like focus, Patrick was also closest to the pin on hole twelve.

According to Jeff Gettys, President of the TCMH Healthcare Foundation, the funds generated by the golf tournament will support scholarships for healthcare-related occupations and provide resources for capital projects.

“We received several sponsorships from individuals and local businesses, paving the way for both the morning and afternoon rounds to be entirely full,” Gettys said.

Gettys noted that corporate event underwriters: West Plains Bank & Trust, ConvergeOne, EMC, and U.S. Radiology Management, along with incredible support from numerous local businesses, greatly aided the Foundation’s ability in hosting an excellent tournament for the participants.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to ensure quality healthcare services for children, women, and men at Texas County Memorial Hospital. Funding for the Foundation comes from community members, groups, businesses, grateful patients, and their families that value healthcare in our area. A board of community leaders from across the county directs the TCMH Healthcare Foundation and the funds held by the Foundation.

“Once more, this tournament has been an enormous benefit for the Healthcare Foundation,” Gettys said.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation intends to hold the golf tournament fundraiser again in 2022.

Houston, MO— Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks has awarded Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation with a $13,000 general support grant to assist Hospice of Care. The grant funds will provide assistance with supplies utilized in direct patient care.

“We are very thankful to Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks for awarding this grant to our hospice program,” Courtney Owens, TCMH Hospice of Care director, said. “The grant dollars will help with our operational costs such as medications, medical equipment and supplies to help take care of our patients.”

Owens mentioned that the grant dollars came at a crucial time for Hospice of Care.

“Due to COVID, we were unable to have our annual chili cook off fundraiser for Hospice of Care, an event that has been our main method for generating support for our hospice program for the last thirteen years,” Owens said. “This grant means a lot to us.”

TCMH Hospice of Care provides end-of-life and palliative care services for patients and families in Texas County and the surrounding area, regardless of their ability to pay for the service.

Since 1997, Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks has given more than $1 million in grant awards supporting innovative programs that respond to unmet needs of those requiring hospice, palliative care, advance care planning, grief and bereavement services. The Foundation has funded a range of grantees making important contributions in critical, yet often overlooked areas of need.

For additional information about TCMH Hospice of Care, contact Owens at (417) 967-1279.

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For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO—Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation’s first ever online auction that took place from October 27 through November 8 was a success, raising a total of $36,041 for TCMH Hospice of Care. The fundraising total included cash and non-cash gifts.

Due to the pandemic, the online auction was held in place of the annual chili cook off event.

All of the funds raised during the event benefit TCMH Hospice of Care which provides end of life and grief support care for patients and their families in Texas County and the surrounding area.

“The success of this event would not have been possible without the incredible support from our sponsors and our community,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, said.

Support for the event came in many ways including critical sponsorships, merchandise donations, in-kind services and through the bidders who actively participated in the auction.

Corporate underwriters for the event were Progressive Ozark Bank, Ozark Independent Living and Associated Purchasing Services.

For the past 14 years, a beef purchased at the county fair to raise funds for Hospice of Care through the previous chili cook off events and this year’s online auction, has been donated by friends and family of the late Dr. I.C. and Margaret Keeney.

John and Jeannie Beltz of Willow Springs along with David and Carol Keeney, and Steve and Diane Pierce carried that tradition forward again this year.

Prior to the inception of the cook off, the Keeney and Beltz families purchased a beef that was donated to Hospice of Care to raise funds for the organization.

The Healthcare Foundation has a designated “Hospice Fund” where the online auction funds and other donations to Hospice of Care are held.

For questions about the auction or to make a donation to TCMH Hospice of Care, please contact the TCMH Healthcare Foundation at (417) 967-1377.

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For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO— The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation plans to award $2,000 in educational scholarships for the spring 2021 academic year.  The organization is currently accepting applications for the scholarships.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Educational Scholarship Program is designed to assist area students that are pursuing or planning to pursue education in a healthcare related field or students currently working in healthcare that are pursuing additional education for their current career.

The Healthcare Foundation is in its thirteenth year of awarding scholarships in the fall and the spring, and the Foundation’s board of directors has awarded scholarships totaling $117,000 in that time.  Students from towns across the TCMH service area have received the scholarships.

“Educational scholarships are a major focus area of the Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, stated.  “The board of directors of the Foundation recognizes the need to assist areas students in their educational endeavors with hopes that the student will return to or stay in the Texas County area to provide healthcare services to area residents after receiving additional education.”

Endowed scholarships provide some of the educational funds, and the Healthcare Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for the scholarship program, and plans are underway to host a tournament again in 2021.

Eligible students for the scholarships must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited university, college or post-secondary training program.  Residents of the TCMH service area—all of Texas County and Mountain Grove—and students that are graduates of Texas County and Mountain Grove schools are eligible to apply.  Applicants already pursuing a career in a healthcare organization, or applicants planning to pursue a career in a health field with direct patient care are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The scholarship application asks for information about the student and requires a short essay about the student’s career and educational goals.  Applicants are also asked to list community involvement activities on their application, and they may be asked to meet with Foundation board members for a short personal interview.

The deadline for the spring scholarship application is January 15, 2021.  Awards for the scholarship will be announced by February 1, 2021.

For more information about the scholarship program or to receive an application, contact Gentry by phone at (417) 967-1377 or 1-866-967-3311, ext. 377 or by e-mail at jgentry@tcmh.org.  The scholarship application and complete details are also available at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

# # #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO— The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation awarded $4,000 in scholarships to area students to assist with their educational costs for the 2020 fall semester.

Receiving $1,000 scholarships from the TCMH Healthcare Foundation were Connor McCluskey of Edgar Springs, Sascha Sanders of Raymondville and Cora Turnbull of Bucyrus.

McCluskey is attending Missouri State University in Springfield and pursuing a bachelor of science degree in cell and molecular biology. McCluskey plans to become a certified medical laboratory scientist following the completion of his bachelor’s degree.

Sanders is pursuing an associate of applied science degree to earn a medical laboratory technician certification through Barton County Community College in Great Bend, KS.

McCluskey and Sanders are employed at TCMH and work in the hospital laboratory.

Turnbull is enrolled in the registered nurse bridge program through Southwest Baptist University in Salem. She is employed as a paramedic in the emergency medical services department at TCMH.

The endowed Dr. Joe L. and Judith T. Spears Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded one $1,000 scholarship to Courtney Owens of Cabool.

Owens is currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO. Owens is a registered nurse and is employed full time at TCMH as the hospice and home health director.

Owens and Turnbull have both been previous recipients of scholarships through the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.

“Educational scholarships are one of the focus areas of the TCMH Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, Healthcare Foundation director, said.

The Healthcare Foundation typically holds an annual golf tournament to raise funds for educational scholarships for area students. This year’s event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the cancellation, the Healthcare Foundation did receive some matching funds from Healthcare Services Group Foundation (HSGCF).

The HSGCF program provides matching financial assistance to students awarded financial assistance by hospitals that are members of the Healthcare Services Association and insured by the Missouri Hospital Plan. Specifically, HSGCF matches scholarships or healthcare related tuition reimbursement provided by non-profit member hospitals throughout Missouri. This scholarship program is designed to facilitate, attract, and retain healthcare providers in Missouri.

“The matching funds from HSGCF enable us to boost the amount of our fall scholarship,” Gentry said.  “Every dollar helps these area students with their educational costs, and we’re grateful for the additional funds to award.”

The Healthcare Foundation awards educational scholarships for students pursuing additional higher education each spring and fall.  With the recent scholarship awards, the Foundation has awarded nearly $117,000 in scholarships to area students since the program began in 2007.

“The Healthcare Foundation administers the scholarships for the endowed funds, and the scholarships go to community members and to employees working in healthcare-related fields in Texas County and surrounding areas,” Gentry said.

According to Gentry, the Healthcare Foundation intends to award two $1,000 scholarships prior to the spring school semester in 2021.  The Foundation will accept applications for the spring scholarships beginning in November.

Applications for the scholarships are available through the Foundation or on the TCMH website.

“The Foundation board of directors recognizes the growing need for healthcare providers in rural America,” Gentry stated.  “It is the hope of the Foundation that these scholarships will assist in attracting and retaining qualified residents to work in the local healthcare fields.”

#  #  #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO— The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation has opened the application window for $4,000 in educational scholarships for the fall 2020 academic year.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Educational Scholarship Program is designed to assist students that are pursuing or planning to pursue education in a healthcare related field or students currently working in healthcare that are pursuing additional education for their current career.

The Healthcare Foundation is in its fourteenth year of awarding scholarships in the fall and the spring. Students from towns across the county have received the scholarships.

In addition to one scholarship from the TCMH Healthcare Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation will also award the “Dr. Joe L. and Judith T. Spears Memorial Scholarship”. The Spears Memorial Scholarship is made available through endowed funds that are awarded to a deserving student annually.

Healthcare Services Group Charitable Foundation, the purchasing group that TCMH belongs to, provides matching funds for scholarships given by the TCMH Healthcare Foundation. Those funds are available annually to the Healthcare Foundation and enable the Healthcare Foundation to give out an additional $2,000 in scholarships to area students.

“Educational scholarships are a major focus area of the Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, stated. “The board of directors of the Foundation recognizes the need to assist areas students in their educational endeavors with hopes that the student will return to or stay in the Texas County area to provide healthcare services to area residents after receiving additional education.”

The Healthcare Foundation has awarded over $112,000 in scholarship funds since the scholarship program began 14 years ago.

Endowed scholarships provide some of the educational funds, and the Healthcare Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for the scholarship program.  The annual golf tournament is typically held in early June, but this year the event has been postponed until later in the summer.

Eligible students for the scholarships must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited university, college or post-secondary training program.  Residents of the TCMH service area—all of Texas County and Mountain Grove—and students that are graduates of Texas County and Mountain Grove schools are eligible to apply. Applicants already pursuing a career in a healthcare organization, or applicants planning to pursue a career in a health field with direct patient care are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The scholarship application asks for information about the student and requires a short essay about the student’s career and educational goals. Applicants are also asked to list community involvement activities on their application, and they may be asked to meet with Foundation board members for a short personal interview.

The deadline for the fall scholarship applications is August 15, 2020. Awards for the scholarship will be announced no later than September 15, 2020.

For more information about the scholarship program or to receive an application, contact Gentry by phone at (417) 967-1377 or 1-866-967-3311, ext. 4202 or by e-mail at jgentry@tcmh.org. The scholarship application and complete details are also available at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

#  #  #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston—Five Texas County Memorial Hospital Youth Ambassadors have received scholarships to help with their academic expenses for the upcoming school year.

Gwen Kincaid of Mountain Grove, Elizabeth Turpin of Cabool and Hannah Tillery of Licking were each awarded $750. Abigail Moncrief of Licking and Ann Gunter of Norwood were each awarded $500. All five recipients are 2020 high school graduates.

Kincaid plans to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia and pursue a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. After she finishes her bachelor’s degree, Kincaid plans to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist.

Turpin plans to attend Missouri State University in West Plains for two years, and then transfer to Missouri State University in Springfield to earn a bachelor’s degree. Turpin hopes to become a physician after she finishes her bachelor’s degree.

Tillery plans to attend Missouri S&T in Rolla and pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology with a pre-med emphasis. After she finishes her bachelor’s degree, Tillery plans to attend medical school and become a virologist.

Moncrief plans to attend East Central College in Rolla to become a registered nurse.

Gunter plans to attend Missouri State University in West Plains and pursue a degree in physical therapy.

Turpin, Tillery, Moncrief and Gunter have all volunteered at TCMH through the Youth Ambassador Program for the past two years, accumulating 300, 200, 150 and 90 volunteer hours, respectively. Kincaid has volunteered through the Youth Ambassador Program for one year and has accumulated 160 hours.

The students have the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of different departments within the hospital.

“There are a lot of different career paths within the hospital that these students can learn about and experience,” Renina Pearce, volunteer services coordinator said.

Funds for the $3,250 in scholarships came from the Youth Ambassador Endowed Scholarship Fund administered by the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.

The Healthcare Foundation set up the fund in 2015 with local community partners and Community Foundation of the Ozarks through the annual “Give Ozarks” day fundraising effort.

Additional scholarship funds for this year were provided through a grant from the Intercounty Charitable and Educational Foundation, The Durham Company, Progressive Ozark Bank, Orscheln Industries Foundation, Inc. and Burch Insurance- Toni McKinney, agent.

With giving efforts from 2020 and previous years, the Youth Ambassador Endowed Scholarship Fund is at $38,000.

Jay Gentry, Healthcare Foundation director, noted that the Foundation is continuing to grow the endowment fund.

This spring was the first year that three $750 and two $500 scholarships have been able to be awarded to the Youth Ambassadors.

Scholarship recipients are asked to fill out an application and write two essays that ask about the student’s future academic and career goals, as well as their involvement in the Youth Ambassadors program.

TCMH Youth Ambassadors are high school juniors or seniors or college students from Texas County, including those from Mountain Grove, Norwood and Eminence. The students are chosen in the fall each year, and are required to volunteer a minimum of four hours each month to remain in the program.

Additional information about the Youth Ambassador volunteer program or the Healthcare

Foundation can be found at www.tcmh.org.

#  #  #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston—The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation has awarded two $1,000 scholarships to area students to assist with their educational costs for the 2020 spring school semester.

Receiving scholarships from the TCMH Healthcare Foundation were Hannah Creek of Raymondville and Jordon Pursifull of Licking. The recipients were chosen among several applicants by members of the Healthcare Foundation board of directors.

Creek is a student at Rolla Technical Center, and she is pursuing a radiologic technology degree. Creek is also currently a radiologic technologist student at TCMH.

Pursifull is a student at Bolivar Technical College, and she is pursuing an associates of science degree in nursing.

“Educational scholarships are a focus area of the TCMH Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, Healthcare Foundation director, said.  He added, “Our board of directors believe in the importance of education for area students that are pursuing training in healthcare-related fields.”

With the recent scholarship awards, the Foundation has awarded $109,000 in scholarships to area students since the program began in 2007.  The Healthcare Foundation awards educational scholarships for students pursuing additional higher education each spring and fall.  This fall, the Healthcare Foundation will award endowed scholarship funds in addition to the Healthcare Foundation scholarships.  The Foundation will accept applications for the fall scholarships beginning in April.

“The Foundation board of directors recognizes the growing need for healthcare providers in rural America,” Gentry stated.  “It is the hope of the Foundation that these scholarships will assist in attracting and retaining qualified residents to work in the local healthcare fields.”

Complete scholarship information and the scholarship application is available online at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

#  #  #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO— The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation plans to award $2,000 in educational scholarships for the spring 2020 academic year.  The organization is currently accepting applications for the scholarships.

The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Educational Scholarship Program is designed to assist area students that are pursuing or planning to pursue education in a healthcare related field or students currently working in healthcare that are pursuing additional education for their current career.

The Healthcare Foundation is in its twelfth year of awarding scholarships in the fall and the spring, and the Foundation’s board of directors has awarded scholarships totaling $107,000 in that time.  Students from towns across the TCMH service area have received the scholarships.

“Educational scholarships are a major focus area of the Healthcare Foundation,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, stated.  “The board of directors of the Foundation recognizes the need to assist areas students in their educational endeavors with hopes that the student will return to or stay in the Texas County area to provide healthcare services to area residents after receiving additional education.”

Endowed scholarships provide some of the educational funds, and the Healthcare Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for the scholarship program, and plans are underway to host a tournament again in 2020.

Eligible students for the scholarships must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited university, college or post-secondary training program.  Residents of the TCMH service area—all of Texas County and Mountain Grove—and students that are graduates of Texas County and Mountain Grove schools are eligible to apply.  Applicants already pursuing a career in a healthcare organization, or applicants planning to pursue a career in a health field with direct patient care are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The scholarship application asks for information about the student and requires a short essay about the student’s career and educational goals.  Applicants are also asked to list community involvement activities on their application, and they may be asked to meet with Foundation board members for a short personal interview.

The deadline for the spring scholarship application is January 15, 2020.  Awards for the scholarship will be announced by February 1, 2020.

For more information about the scholarship program or to receive an application, contact Gentry by phone at (417) 967-1377 or 1-866-967-3311, ext. 377 or by e-mail at jgentry@tcmh.org.  The scholarship application and complete details are also available at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

# # #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org

Houston, MO— The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation begins its eleventh year of “Celebrate Our Memories” in partnership with TCMH Hospice of Care this week.

During the holiday season, TCMH displays a nine-foot tall Christmas tree in the front lobby that will hold Christmas ornaments that can be “gifted” and inscribed with the name or a message in honor or in memory of someone special in their life.

The Foundation will divide all funds generated by the program with another TCMH entity—Hospice of Care—so the Christmas program actually benefits two local charitable organizations.

As part of Celebrate Our Memories, those who have “gifted” an ornament will be invited to keep the ornament as a personal keepsake of their memory at the end of the holiday season, after the tree is removed from the hospital’s front lobby.

The ornaments are hung on the tree as they are gifted.   Sponsorship of one ornament is $25, and anyone can gift as many ornaments as they wish.  Ornaments can be gifted by groups or by individuals.  Gifted ornaments can honor a group, an individual such as a teacher, a parent, a friend, or other loved one.

Anyone who gifts an ornament can provide a name or message that will be inscribed on the ornament tag for them.

“It’s the goal of the Foundation and Hospice of Care to have at least 100 ornaments gifted in recognition of someone this holiday season,” Gentry said.

Hospice of Care uses the funding they receive from the program to provide hospice care, supplies and equipment for patients and their families in Texas county and surrounding areas.  The Healthcare Foundation uses their portion of the funds in meeting a mission of ensuring the quality of healthcare services for children, women and men at the county hospital.

“I am already soliciting and receiving sponsorships for the Celebrate Our Memories program,” Gentry said.  “We hope to have several ornaments on the tree as soon as it goes up.”

Those who wish to gift an ornament should contact Courtney Owens, director of TCMH Hospice of Care at (417) 967-1279 for a form to fill out.  Forms are also available at the TCMH Auxiliary Gift Shop located at the front entrance to the hospital and on the Healthcare Foundation’s website, www.tcmhfoundation.org.

A letter of recognition will be sent to those who gift an ornament, and ornaments will be available for pick up at the hospital after the holiday season.

All proceeds from the program will remain in the area and directly impact the local community.  Any donation made to the TCMH Healthcare Foundation or to Hospice of Care is tax deductible.

#  #  #

For additional information, contact:

Rachel Davis, MHA

Director of Public Relations/Marketing

Texas County Memorial Hospital

Phone:  417/967-1258

Fax:  417/967-3764

rachel.davis@tcmh.org