benefactor spotlights

An icon of Mother Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, was unveiled on May 23 in the Debi and Jerry Bisgrove Admitting Lobby at St. Joseph’s. Judy and Bill Schubert, long-time supporters of the hospital, donated the icon in memory of Sister Mary Assumpta, the superior of the convent at St. Joseph’s and the chairman of St. Joseph’s Board of Directors in the 1970s. Judy became a close friend of Sr. Mary Assumpta during the nun’s time at St. Joseph’s. Sr. Mary Assumpta died in February 2007. In the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, an icon is a sacred image or picture of Jesus, Mary or one of the saints. People sit before the icon and pray to the person depicted. The icon at St. oseph’s was painted by Susan vonMedicus, a Pennsylvania artist who has created four icons of Mother McAuley, including two for Catholic Healthcare West facilities—the one at St. Joseph’s and one at Mercy Gilbert Hospital.

After the icon was unveiled in the hospital lobby, a recording of Mother McAuley’s favorite prayer, “Suscipe,” was played, while Dr. Ann Borik signed the prayer. Dr. Borik is a Valley doctor who created an innovative, spiritually-based relaxation and exercise program incorporating sign language, breathing, thought and movement.

Friends and relatives of the Schuberts attended the unveiling, along with members of the hospital’s Board of Directors, Administration and St. Joseph’s Foundation. Bill serves on St. Joseph’s Board of Directors, and Judy is a member of the Barrow Women’s Board.

Lou Grubb receives first Sr. Mary Placida Conant Award

Lou Grubb is the first recipient of the Sister Mary Placida Conant Award, presented on May 22 during a Barrow Neurological Foundation cocktail reception at the Phoenix Art Museum. The new award was established by board chairman Tom Reahard and his wife, Cathy, to recognize a Barrow Neurological Foundation board member for outstanding service and dedication to the organization.

Sister Placida was the administrator of St. Joseph’s when Barrow was founded. Her commitment to excellence, dedication to collaboration, resourcefulness and can-do spirit made Barrow possible and set the stage for its success. Sr. Placida passed away on Aug. 29, 2007.

Lou Grubb has supported Barrow for years, ever since Robert Spetzler, MD, saved his life in 1986 after Lou collapsed of a ruptured aneurysm while playing golf. Since 1994, Lou has contributed proceeds from his annual golf tournament— now called Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf—to Barrow. The tournament has contributed more than $3 million to the hospital.

Fore a Friend raises funds in memory of Doug Griffin

When Doug Griffin was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002, a group of his close friends, including Jim Stringham and Kevin Sheehan, organized a golf event to raise money for his family. When Doug passed away on June 29, 2004, Jim and his friends decided to make the golf tournament an annual event, with the proceeds going to charity.

“ Barrow and St. Joseph’s had been so wonderful to Doug in treating him, so deciding on the charitable organization was easy,” says Kristen Griffin, Doug’s wife.

The golf event is held in April every year, and the group’s goal is to continue this event so that Doug’s fouryear- old son, James, can someday play in the event and learn a little more about who his father was.

“Each year some newcomers join the event, in addition to the same group of family, friends and co-workers who knew or have been touched by Doug’s life in some way,” says Kristen. “Jim does an extraordinary job each year in organizing this event, and each year it is a huge success.“

Anders family gives in support of stroke, epilepsy programs

When Donald Anders suffered a severe stroke in 2000, his large and close-knit family knew very little about strokes. But by June 2004 when stroke took another member of the family, Steve Anders and his remaining eight brothers and sisters were no longer in the dark about one of the major killers of Americans.

The 10 Anders brothers and sisters had set up the Donald Anders Foundation in honor of their beloved father, who died a few weeks after his stroke. With money raised at an annual golf tournament, they began supporting local efforts to educate people about stroke—causes, symptoms and prevention.

“We raise between $5,000 and $10,000 every year, and we do what we can with the money to help everyone out,” says Jim Anders, one of Don Anders' sons.

Besides making gifts to organizations like Barrow Neurological Foundation, Anders family members volunteer at stroke screenings and health fairs, and participate in the annual Stroke Walk. And, because strokes can trigger epileptic seizures, the foundation also supports the annual stroke walk and efforts to send children with epilepsy to summer camp.

After Kathy Hatton, one of the Anders siblings, died of a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in 2004, the rest of the family underwent testing to uncover undiagnosed AVMs. One sister was diagnosed with an AVM and underwent successful treatment.

Steve says that the family’s foundation and volunteer work have helped them deal with their losses.

“It’s helped us to come together as a family and help other people. It’s been a healing experience.”

For more information about the Donald Anders Foundation, visit www.DonAndersFoundation.com.