HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and Midland States Bank Endowments Now Providing Sports Complex Scholarships

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital and Midland States Bank have each established permanent endowment funds at Effingham County Community Foundation, designated to provide membership scholarships at the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Center to low-income families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to use the facility. Applications are available at any time at the registration desk at the Sports Center.

All individuals and families with financial needs are eligible to apply for individual assistance. Scholarships are awarded quarterly and are applied to three-month memberships with the possibility of renewal if the funding is available. The first round of scholarships has been awarded to 10 families, impacting 25 individuals in Effingham County. It is anticipated that the number of scholarships will grow as the public becomes more aware of the application process. It is the hope of Midland States Bank and St. Anthony’s that the experience will have a lasting positive impact on these individuals and families.

Theresa Rutherford, HSHS St. Anthony’s President and CEO, shared, “We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the Effingham County Community Foundation and the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex to offer these fitness scholarships. In addition to our support of this new facility by leasing space for our Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness services, these scholarships give area residents an opportunity to use this wonderful asset to help get in shape. It is always our goal to empower all area residents to improve their health.”

The HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Endowment for a Healthier Community was established in 2007 based on the results of Checkup 2005: Assessing Our Community’s Health, a community health assessment of Effingham County. Statistics indicated that children and adults of this area are in need of increased activity to combat obesity, especially those who are living at or below the poverty level. Also motivated by the Checkup 2005 results, Midland States Bank established the Midland States Bank Endowment for a Healthier Community in 2015.

The Midland States Bank and HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Endowments for Healthier Communities are funds of Effingham County Community Foundation, an affiliate of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation. For more information, call 217.342.4988 or visit www.enrichingourcommunity.org/EffinghamCounty