Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Fall/Winter 2017

Gibson gets it! 17 My goal is to help educate folks, especially the younger generation, about the different lines of care Gibson Area Hospital (GAH) provides to our area. In order to keep growing, it takes a team to generate leads and find people who appreciate GAH and will help us continue to provide excellent health care. — Eric Tjarks , Gibson City Curt Homann joins Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (GAHHS) after 20 years as owner of an insurance and real estate agency in Farmer City. He has played a strong role in civic leadership, and his commitment to service has earned him the Community Builder Award and recognition as Farmer City’s Citizen of the Year. Homann brings to GAHHS an education from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (bachelor’s degree in finance) and Parkland College (associate’s in business administration) along with a wide variety of experience in volunteer activities. He is well-suited for planning, promoting and directing special events, while also building relationships that will strengthen the hospital’s Foundation. Q What led you to the role as Foundation Director? I felt like I have been preparing for this position from day one, since I was born at this fine hospital. There really are great things going on at Gibson Area Hospital, and to have a personal impact on helping to make more great things happen is exciting for me. I have tremendous respect for this organization and the positive impact that the employees, volunteers and leadership of Gibson Area Hospital have had in our communities. My pathway was a bit unique. I served on the Gibson Hospital Advisory Board, Foundation Board and Hospital Board of Directors. While those roles were important, this is a position where I can make more of a direct impact. My initial goal is to share the story of Gibson Area Hospital with as many people as possible. It is also important to continue to meet patient needs in terms of care, equipment, services and resources. Another goal is to help fulfill these needs by finding the financial resources that will enable Gibson Area Hospital to be continually recognized as a state-of-the-art health care organization well into the future. I’m so grateful to be raising my family in central Illinois. I ammarried to my wife of 25 years, Jennifer. We have three children, Taylor, Nick and Mackenzie. Taylor is married and lives with her husband, Nicolas, in Iowa. Nick attends Parkland College, and Mackenzie is a junior in high school. GAH is an essential part of the entire region as a provider and employer. I am excited to be a part of the Foundation and help them continue to support the hospital and the region. — Jeremy Darnell , Gibson City I am passionate about the community I live in, and GAH is a huge asset to the town of Paxton and the surrounding communities. I enjoy being involved in community-oriented organizations, and the Foundation seems like a great fit for me. — Justin Swan , Paxton I was happy to receive a call inviting me to join the GAH Foundation Board, and thought it was a great way to support the hospital and the communities it serves. It can be difficult for rural areas to develop and sustain quality services. I think it is important for community partners to support each other. Joining the Foundation Board is a way to contribute to the health of the community. — Laurelyn Cropek , Champaign Over the years I have seen how GAH has grown and all the good it has done in our communities. So when I was approached to join the Foundation, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of so I too could do my part to help the hospital and our communities continue to grow. — Patricia Wilson , Sibley Why did you join the Foundation? A chat with our new Director of Development