Rock Island Today

Genesis Medical Center recently issued the following announcement.

Membership in the Genesis Legacy Society has grown to more than 300 with the induction of four new members who were recognized recently for their generous commitments to support health care in the region.

The new members are Dr. Andrew and Sharon Andresen, Ron and Shirley Gusta, Venita Sharp, and Kurt and Kristyn Tjaden. They were inducted at the Genesis Legacy Society fall reception.

The Legacy Society recognizes individuals and couples who plan to leave a legacy or future gift through their will or estate planning, or who contribute a substantial outright gift for endowment.

“Gifts from members of the Genesis Legacy Society have already brought approximately $10 million in support of health care at Genesis facilities, with millions more committed in future expectancies,” said Foundation Executive Director Missy Gowey.

Legacy Society members include grateful patients and families, volunteers and members of the Auxiliary, community philanthropists, physicians, executives, board members, nurses, therapists, and staff working in security, housekeeping, spiritual care, the lab and the pharmacy.

“Members of the Genesis Legacy Society directly and indirectly help bring babies to birth, heal the wounded, cure the sick, comfort those near death and console the grieving,” said Steve Goebel, Senior Planned Giving Officer, Genesis Health Services Foundation. “Legacy giving makes a significant impact to the benefit of our patients and staff, whether they are mega gifts or much more modest gifts, whether through bequests, charitable trusts and gift annuities, life insurance, retirement plans or outright gifts of endowment.’’

Here is more about the newest Legacy Society members:

• Dr. Andrew and Sharon Andresen. Dr. Andresen has served Genesis for more than 20 years as a practicing physician and as a faculty member and Executive Director of the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program. In his current role as Genesis Vice President of Medical Staff Affairs, he serves as liaison between the Genesis administrative team and the 900 physicians and allied health professionals who serve our patients. He helps maintain Genesis medical practice standards, policies and procedures that support quality patient care and safety. Last year he was honored with the Colleague Award for Quality Care, one of the highest awards presented each year to a Genesis physician. His wife, Sharon, helped lead a Genesis Foundation campaign for a Rooftop Greenspace and in the community, has led the restoration of historic Old Forest Grove School in Bettendorf, slated to open next spring looking like it did back in 1923. Together, they are great supporters of the Foundation as members of the President’s Circle of Care and as ambassadors for various Foundation fund-raising programs.

• Ron and Shirley Gusta. Shirley has been part of the Genesis family nearly 40 years, since joining St. Luke’s Hospital right out of Marycrest College. She worked six years as an orthopedic nurse, but has spent most of her Genesis career in administration, as manager of Information Technology Client Services, and more recently as head of the Business Intelligence Center. Two years ago, she received the Legend Award, the highest level of employee recognition of Genesis Health System. Shirley met her husband, Ron at Genesis predecessor St. Luke’s Hospital, where he also was employed. They are members of the Genesis President’s Circle of Care, and model their service, leadership, and investment in future generations of employees, patients, and families.

• Kurt and Kristyn Tjaden. Kristyn serves on the Genesis Health Services Foundation Board of Directors, has been an active member of the Development Committee, and assists with writing grants proposals and the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House newsletter. Her husband Kurt serves as President of HNI International, the global office furniture maker based in Muscatine, Iowa. The Tjadens express their deep appreciation for care given by Genesis to their family, from beginning to end of life, and have made a generous donation to the Genesis permanent endowment fund.

• Venita Sharp (Inducted Posthumously). Sharp was a 38-year employee at Alcoa, while her husband, Bill, retired after 32 years with Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric. Genesis Hospice provided quality, compassionate care to both Venita, who died in April 2017, and Bill, who passed away in 2005.

Legacy gifts can be created easily with wills, trusts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and other tax-wise giving techniques. All legacy gifts will eventually further the Genesis mission of quality, compassionate health services for all those in need. For more information, contact the Genesis Health Services Foundation at (563) 421-6865, or (563) 281-4392 or go to www.genesishealth.com/give.

Original source can be found here.