KPH Healthcare Services, a healthcare chain consisting of Kinney Drugs, ProAct, Health Direct and Noble, recently announced its 2018 volunteers of the year.
During its inaugural year, the company’s “Own Your Cause Volunteer Recognition Program” gave employees the opportunity to share stories and initiatives with others throughout KPH.
This recognition was based not only on the amount of time given back to their communities, but also on the dedication and commitment to the programs with which they were involved. The Own Your Cause Committee took a vote in late December and held a check presentation for the winners’ charity of choice Jan. 10.
Both winners exemplify caring, dedicated and selfless service to their communities.
Marc Baum, Merchandise Presentation Supervisor – Kinney Drugs. Benefiting Organization: All Things Oz Museum.
The International L. Frank Baum & All Things Oz Historical Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, 100-percent volunteer-run, chartered Historical Foundation located in Chittenango.
“I serve as the Foundation secretary, and we are located along the yellow brick road sidewalks of Chittenango, the birthplace of American author, L. Frank Baum,” said Merchandise Presentation Supervisor Marc Baum. “Our foundation operates the All Things Oz Museum, as well as the annual Oz-Stravaganza festival. Our museum hosts more than 17,000 visitors a year, and the festival draws over 30,000 people to the village the first weekend of each June.
“Besides the annual event and the museum, our organization has a speakers bureau that is very active and has engaged audiences from Waddington to the U.N. School in New York City and the Ohio Wizard of Oz festival to library talks and collect lectures on Baum and his works.
“Our museum houses a collection of nearly 15,000 artifacts and collectibles, of which 1,300 or so are on display at any time. Exhibits include the original Emerald City glasses from the 1975 Broadway show ‘The Wiz,’ original books and manuscripts, props from OZ movies and productions and two 1939 MGM Munchkin actor appearance costumes.
“Additionally, our foundation brings arts education to local school districts by bringing Emmy-, Tony- and Grammy awards winners to local schools. Guests have included New York Times Best-selling authors, Broadway legends and stage and screen actors alike. The Foundation gift shop was recently named one of the 25 Gifted Retailers by ‘Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine’ and supports the goal to educate and inspire a new generation of writers, actors and dreamers.”
Maggie Tadlock, Assistant Proposal Administrator – ProAct. Benefiting Organization: Hope for Heather
“Working for KPH for nine years, I look for organizations that mean something personally to me,” said Maggie Tadlock, assistant proposal administrator – ProAct. “I wanted to have an impact in this world no matter how small, so I started to get involved outside of the KPH family.”
“I’ve made sandwiches and bagged lunches, handed out coats and mittens to the homeless in freezing weather through the organization Rise Above the Streets,” Tadlock said. “I have walked, volunteered and raised funds for the Lupus Alliance, Autism Society of America and Grace’s Garden for Ovarian Cancer, all to help local people who deal with these horrible illnesses.
“These organizations also give to larger organizations to someday find a cure. At the Ronald McDonald House, you can make a meal to bring in for the guests. A group and myself did this, and it was a wonderful and uplifting experience knowing the families had a warm, home-cooked meal, and that they did not need to worry about this with everything they were already dealing with. If you could just witness their smiles and thankfulness, it would change you.
“There are other organizations that I have volunteered my time for like Clear Path for Veterans, Gear Country Little League and the American Red Cross. The organization that is most near and dear to me is Hope for Heather. This is an ovarian cancer organization that helps local women as well as donates to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance to help find a cure. This organization means so much to me because I lost a dear friend, Emily, who was the one who lit the spark inside me to become a volunteer.
“Volunteering has made me more aware of others’ fights and made me thankful for what I have been given. I have laughed, I have cried, but I have always learned that you don’t need a lot of money, just time to make a difference.”
KPH Organization congratulates Maggie and Marc.