Thank You, Sauk Valley!
Over 618,000 children and adults have been touched these last 35 years through the many initiatives funded by the CGH Health Foundation. $497,228 was raised during the 2021 Annual Appeal and almost 24,000 people received assistance, education or took part in screenings from May 1, 2021 though April 30, 2022.
The 2022 campaign called "Memories Matter." kicked off in May, with a goal of $475,000. The year is devoted to raising awareness about dementia (there are 70 types), developing resources and providing assistance to those families affected by dementia. Three Dementia Workshops have been hosted on the legal, financial and care planning aspects of being on the dementia journey. Click (238) CGH Medical Center - YouTube to view all three of the videos from the workshops.
Did you know?
- $10: buys hot meals for two patients during chemotherapy
- $80: provides free eyeglasses for a child in need
- $150: funds education sessions for three diabetics
- $250: assures a ride to appointments for 10 patients
- $300: provides therapy toys for the CGH Pediatric Rehab Center
- $500: sponsors medication for 20 individuals
Donate now on our secure website.
Foundation Initiatives
In addition to Dementia Awareness, the Foundation sponsors 15 other initiatives, many of which have been in place since the early 1990s. During the more than two years of the pandemic, the Foundation offered many free to low cost services that were especially impactful for those newly hurting from Covid. Click here for resource listing for help.
Areas of need that were especially important this past year included:
- Free mental health counseling program
- Free prescription program
- Free transportation service
- Free eyeglass program
- Free cardiac and pulmonary rehab therapy services
- Free college scholarships
- Free comfort bags, turbans, scarves meals for cancer patients
Together, we will continue to do more good for more people in the Sauk Valley. Check out these resources which are made possible by generous individuals, businesses and clubs from throughout the area.
(Click arrows to the right of each initiative to learn more)
This program provides a free 30-day supply of necessary medications to CGH patients who don't have the funds for those therapies. Call 815.625.0400 for Julie Morse, ext. 4433, to find out more.
Need a ride? We’ll get CGH patients to their appointments at our area clinics or hospital for free. If you need to see a specialist in Chicago, Madison, etc., we’ll get you there as well. Ask your provider for help with a ride or call 815.625.0400 for Talia Rosas, ext. 5556, or Julie Morse, ext. 4433. Gas cards also available.
Available since 2016. CGH patients can receive free counseling at CGH clinics or via phone call or Zoom conferencing as provided by mental health professionals Lakyn Waldschmidt, BS, MHP, Stephanie Christian, BA, MHP and Julie Kirchhoff, BA, MHP. Help for youth, families, and adults is available. They offer expert assessment, brief targeted intervention, and individual therapy for social, emotional, and environmental issues in partnership with Sinnissippi Centers, funded by the CGH Health Foundation.
Call Lakyn at 815.677.6172 or email Lakyn.Waldschmidt@cghmc.com or Stephanie at 815.440.2354 or email Stephanie.Christian@cghmc.com or Julie at 815.677.8342 or Julie.Kirchhoff@cghmc.com
Focus on social and emotional needs of Sterling, Rock Falls, Milledgeville,Polo and West Carroll students. Mental health professionals from Sinnissippi Centers provide services in the schools with funding from the CGH Health Foundation. Includes new B-CALM (888/332-2256) stress relief help line from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call Gloria Martin at Sinnissippi Centers 815.284.6611, Ext. 254 or 800.242.7642.
Under-served school-age children and Medicare-age, disabled and uninsured adults from our five-county service area receive a free eye exam and pair of glasses through this program. Contact Sherry DeWalt at 815.625.0400, ext. 5716, to find out more.
Treatment sessions for patients who cannot afford their Phase 3 Cardiac Rehab or Pulmonary Rehab sessions are covered.
The newly expanded Center for speech, occupational and physical therapy received state of the art equipment in 2019 through a Foundation grant. Therapists use the immersive sensory integration room, dynamic full-color interactive projector/motion capture system, portable unweighing gait trainer, interactive light bright wall, and universal exercise unit to create a child and family-centered plan of care. Therapy consists of play-based activities to build functional skills. Call 815.632.5199 to make an appointment for your child. 1,850 children took part in 5,657 therapy sessions last fiscal year. Free gas cards available if you need help getting to appointments. Ask your provider or contact Joan Hermes at 815.625.0400, ext. 5672.
This program provides year-round financial assistance for screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, breast biopsies and MRIs. To find out more, contact Sherry DeWalt at 815.625.0400, ext. 5716.
We offer glucose screenings, cholesterol screenings and blood pressure screenings through this program. Contact Sherry DeWalt at 815.625.0400, ext. 5716, to find out more. Or visit our calendar to find out when the next screenings are offered. We offer a yoga class for the community as well on Mondays at 5:15 p.m. at 2600 N. Locust St., Sterling.
Therapy dog teams visit with patients, family members and staff at CGH Medical Center. Looking for new dog teams. Read more. Contact Deb Keaschall at 815.625.0400, ext. 5727, to find out more. Your $250 contribution will sponsor a therapy dog. Contact Joan Hermes at 815.625.0400, ext. 5672.
Includes Strong Women Strong Bones light weight strengthening class and CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) program in area schools. This program encourages children and adults to increase their activity level and make healthy food choices and is hosted in partnership with Sterling Rock Falls Family YMCA. Contact Sherry DeWalt at 815.625.0400, ext. 5716, to find out more.
Under-served children and adults living in the Sauk Valley receive low-cost dental care at this clinic, with partial funding from the Foundation. Contact the Whiteside County Health Department at 815.626.2230 to find out more.
We offer $30,000 in scholarship assistance for students in the nursing and healthcare fields. Click here for an application. Scholarship deadline is September 16, 2022 at 5 p.m.
Cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screenings at the worksite are offered through this program, as well as health coaching and goal-setting services. Employers can also receive a monthly Workplace Wellness newsletter. Find out more.
This speaker series, part of Workplace Wellness, has now gone digital – being offered on Facebook because of COVID-19. The educational programs feature physicians and other healthcare professionals who share their knowledge on a variety of important health topics, and all talks are free and open to the public. Find out when the next program will be shared.
We’re here for you, whether you need assistance now or later. None of these programs would be available without the support of our community.
Donate now on our secure website.
Thank you for partnering with us!
The Foundation will be:
- Partnering with other agencies, groups and individuals to assist in their dementia activities, such as organizing support groups at area senior centers, libraries, churches and nursing homes. Four support groups are meeting in Sterling, Polo, Chadwick, Mt. Morris and we are working on organizing groups in Prophetstown, Morrison and Walnut, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association
- Hiring a new dementia navigator to be the liaison between our medical providers and our patients and their families to help them access education and resources so essential for their care - her name is Beth Sterk and she will begin her new duties March 27
- Providing funding for dementia-focused activities at these places, like supplies for the Caregiver Support groups, books on dementia, and musical instruments for memory care center therapy programs - sensory therapy items have already been given to Morningside, Resthave and Citadel nursing homes
- Planning a series of mini-classes focused on caregivers to provide still more information on how to navigate the dementia journey - register for the 9-week Stress-busting class for caregivers being hosted with Lifescape Community Services
- Creating a multi-media marketing campaign to raise awareness about what dementia is and how to lower your risk through exercise, diet, brain games and social interaction
- Hosting educational programs for the public as well as for CGH staff and other area professionals
- Developing a comprehensive listing of all the support groups, whatever new services are being added because of the Dementia Project, and what are existing at CGH as well as at places like the Whiteside County Senior Center and other facilities to provide for community members
On June 28, 2022, a Community Forum on Dementia was hosted at Bethel Reformed Church, Sterling, with over 100 people in attendance. Speakers included CGH neurologist Dr. Preeti Joseph and Joe Landmichl, manager of community education and volunteers for the Alzheimer's Association. Click here to watch the video from the evening presentations.