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A Message from Good Shepherd 

Community Health Foundation

Twenty-nine years ago, a pioneering 
group of community leaders laid the 
groundwork for the Good Shepherd 
Community Health Foundation. 
Today, we continue to build on their 
vision, fostering a culture of care 
and compassion in Western Umatilla 
and Morrow Counties. The GSCHF is 
unique among hospital-associated 
non-profit foundations, as it was 
formed to benefit the health of local 
communities in Western Umatilla and 
Morrow Counties. As a Community 
Foundation, we are proud to join 
with local residents in improving the 
quality of lifestyle and health of our 
community. Through the generosity 
of our supporters, we award grants, 
medical scholarships, and partner 
with community organizations to 
address local health needs. 

Along with awards to the 
community, fundraising 
opportunities also arise. The Festival 
of Trees, a partnership with the 
Hermiston Kiwanis Club, is one of 
the most elegant and anticipated 
events of the year. In December 
2023, the Hermiston Festival of Trees 
was no exception. This event was an 
immediate sell-out and well-received 
by the community. As the event 
grows, we have continued to use 
electronic bidding for patrons, giving 
easy bidding access to baskets, 
wreaths, and stockings, while 

maintaining the excitement of the 
live auction for Large and Tabletop 
Trees. It raised over $85,000, of 
which $35,500 was allocated to  
the Foundation. 

The Christmas Spirit Award was 
created to reflect our giving 
communities. In December of 
2023, Kelly and Scott Zielke were 
honored, recognizing their selfless 
contributions to the community. 
These individuals were nominated 
by a local community member and 
chosen by the board as recipients 
because they exemplify the 
Christmas Spirit – the spirit of giving 
throughout the year. 

National Doctors’ Day is designated 
annually as March 30. It is a day set 
aside for community members to 
honor medical professionals who 
make a difference in their lives. In 
April 2024, eighteen physicians 
and healthcare professionals were 
awarded special certificates of 
appreciation due to community 
donations received by the 
Foundation on their behalf, totaling 
over $2,400. 

In the spring of 2024, the 
Foundation announced the 
award of $74,500 in medical 
scholarships to thirty-nine high 
school graduates, college students, 
and medical professionals seeking 

additional medical training. Among 
these recipients were students 
representing most local communities 
within our service area. These 
students will attend twenty-one 
various colleges and universities 
throughout the country. 

The Foundation added the 
Distinguished Service Awards to its 
event calendar this year, introducing 
a new way for the Foundation 
to give back to our service area 
through the recognition and honor 
of local residents and businesses 
that go above and beyond 
expectations.  

This year’s honorees include Man of 
the Year David Bothum, Woman of 
the Year Cecili Longhorn, Business of 
the Year Bennett Botanical Gardens, 
First Responder of the Year Jerrad 
Little, Outstanding Young Citizen 
Giovanni Cisneros and Community 
Champion “I Love My City”. These 
individuals were nominated by 
community members and selected 
by a committee of community 
members upon review of their 
community impact. Nominations for 
2025 will open in January. 

The 2024 Scramble for Scholarships 
Golf Tournament, held in June, 
was exceptionally successful, 
raising over $50,000 for medical 
scholarships. We were fortunate