LMH Health Foundation honors those who support community healthcare
LAWRENCE – LMH Health Foundation is pleased to announce recipients of the 18th annual Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award. The Watkins Award celebrates people and organizations who have provided significant service to LMH Health and community healthcare.
Honorees are community members Dward and the late Jeanine Moore, Sam Porritt and Leann Johnson, Dan Schriner and Sally Hare-Schriner, and Dr. Mike and Cheri Thompson. Information on each honoree is included below.
The Foundation is also pleased to announce a record annual transfer of more than $9.1 million in philanthropic contributions to support LMH Health priorities in 2024. The previous record of $4.3 million was established in 2020.
Over the last two years, donors have provided more than $7.2 million in support for the expansion and renovation of the LMH Health Cancer Center, anticipated to open this summer. This expansion will ensure the Cancer Center facilities reflect the extraordinarily high level of physician care and expertise, leading-edge technology and patient-centered programming found within the center. Additional funds were transferred in support of new PET imaging technology, clinic renovations in the Anderson Health Plaza, charitable care needs, and other patient-centered initiatives.
“We are fortunate to be part of a community that values access to exceptional healthcare, and donor support helps ensure our community hospital continues to be among the very best in the country," said Rebecca Smith, LMH Health Foundation executive director and LMH Health vice president of strategy and communications. “From investing in facilities and technology typically only seen in major medical centers to ensuring those advancements are available to every single member of our community regardless of ability to pay, donors have had a real and tremendous impact over this past year. We are incredibly grateful for this support and all it makes possible.”
Here’s a closer look at the Watkins honorees:
Dward and the late Jeanine Moore
Dward and Jeanine Moore were married for 56 years. They met at a music camp in Missouri — Jeanine was a violinist; Dward, a baritone vocalist. The young couple joined the Peace Corps after college, teaching two years at a school for boys in Uganda. Back in the States, they eventually settled in a small town in Maryland. Dward taught anthropology and later worked at an employee-owned survey research company. Jeanine worked in libraries, taught music and performed in professional quartets. In 2015, to be closer to extended family, they moved to Lawrence. As always, they looked for ways to give to their community.
“One day in the newspaper I saw an article about the Help & Healing Fund, and we knew that was it,” Dward said. The fund pays for medication and durable medical equipment for patients in need as they leave the hospital. “We had some personal experience with LMH Health — the doctors here are very good. It made us feel good that we can support people who need the help.”
Through their generosity, both Dward and Jeanine continue to touch lives.
Sam Porritt and Leann Johnson
At some point after Sam Porritt and Leann Johnson moved to Lawrence about 25 years ago, they realized LMH Health is extraordinary.
“We didn’t choose Lawrence because we saw it had great healthcare, but we lucked into it!” Sam said.
“This is a small-enough community — you get to see your healthcare providers in real life. You can be out to dinner, or the grocery store, and there’s your doctor. You get to see them as real people,” Leann explained. “I love having those relationships here.”
Sam and Leann have given generously to support renovations to the LMH Health Cancer Center and patient-centered technology, as well as patient expenditures for physical therapy and occupational therapy. Additionally, Sam founded Falling Forward Foundation, which funds continued rehab after insurance benefits run out.
“The culture and the people at LMH Health are all about kindness and caring, and the quality of care is remarkable,” Sam said. “Hospitals used to be about fixing things that were already broken. Today, it’s more about being proactive, and that’s very true here. I mean, they even changed the name of the hospital to LMH Health.”
Dan Schriner and Sally Hare-Schriner
Dan Schriner and Sally Hare-Schriner moved back to Lawrence in 2001.
“It seems like we end up at the hospital a lot,” said Dan, laughing. “I fell off a ladder a few years ago and cracked some ribs. I’ve also had a total knee replacement and back surgery here. When Sally had chest pain, they ushered us right in to a special cardiac care unit. I think it’s a pretty big deal that LMH Health is independent and not-for-profit. They do a great job looking after our community — and so I decided to do my part and look after LMH.”
Dan served on the LMH Health Foundation board of directors and has listed the foundation in his estate planning. They have shared several generous gifts to the hospital and were early donors to the LMH Health East Heights primary care clinic.
“We share a philosophy about giving,” Sally said. “If you want something done, just do it. And why wait until you die? If it’s possible, give now and reap the emotional benefit while you’re alive. The amount doesn’t matter as much as the willingness to give.”
Dr. Mike and Cheri Thompson
For 25 years, Dr. Mike and Cheri Thompson have been part of the LMH Health family. Dr. Thompson — “everyone calls me Mike,” he said — saw a job posting for a pathologist in Lawrence in 2000 and came for an interview.
“We got here and knew right away,” said Cheri, a registered nurse and nurse anesthetist who went to work at Lawrence Plastic Surgery.
While their boys grew up here, the Thompsons invested in LMH Health in myriad ways. Mike served as chief of staff, on many committees and on the foundation board of directors; together they co-chaired Rock the Block–Kick Cancer. They have supported patient-centered technology, cancer care and specific needs in the laboratory.
“We’re just big believers in a community hospital,” Cheri said.
Mike added, “The hospital is sort of the heartbeat of the community. It’s amazing to see how much ours has grown since we moved here.”
Both have retired recently but stay connected.
“This is a family,” Mike said. “I try to be an example for younger docs, and they are proud to report back that they went to a meeting, played in the Penny Jones Golf Tournament. When you give to something you have ownership in, you want it to do well.”
All photos courtesy of Earl Richardson.
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About LMH Health Foundation
LMH Health Foundation, formerly LMH Endowment Association, is a 501(c)(3) that leverages $28 million in philanthropic assets to improve healthcare in our community. In 2024, the Foundation provided more than $9.1 million of donor contributions to support LMH Health priorities.
The organization is governed by a board of directors, which guides programs to grow investments in patient care, community education, charitable care, wellness and more. LMH Health Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.
About LMH Health
At LMH Health, formerly Lawrence Memorial Hospital, our purpose is to be a partner for lifelong health. We were founded more than 100 years ago on the principle that everyone in our community is entitled to high-quality healthcare. Our health system includes a 174-bed not-for-profit hospital with the latest diagnostic and surgical technology, the new LMH Health West Campus facility, and 28 primary and specialty care clinics. Supported by more than 1,800 staff and 380 providers, we are dedicated to the health and wellness of our communities and it shows in our physician expertise, innovative care and high standards of clinical excellence.
We are proud of our work. And we regularly earn national and regional honors for our high-quality service, including:
- LMH Health has earned accreditation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. This accreditation is only awarded to institutions that can demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases and requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists.
- The LMH Health Cancer Center earned accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) in 2022. As a NAPBC-accredited center, the LMH Health Cancer Center is committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care resulting in high-quality care for patients with breast disease.
- LMH Health earned Heart Failure Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in June 2024. This accreditation recognizes LMH for our demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart failure.
- The Joint Commission recognized LMH Health with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Center. We’re also one of only two health systems in Kansas to receive Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Knee Replacement.
- LMH Health is consistently recognized for leading the way in technological integration, being named as one of Digital Health's Most Wired programs by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.
- LMH Health was recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement in 2024.
- LMH Health was named a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Distinction Center+ for maternity care in 2018, 2020 and again in 2024. We also earned the High 5 for Mom and Baby Premier recognition from the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund in 2020.
- LMH Health’s Skilled Nursing Unit was named as a Best Nursing Home for Short-Term Rehabilitation for 2023 and 2024 by U.S. News and World Report.
