For the City-Times

Martin Luther King, Jr, Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Steve Jobs – all great examples of leaders that catapulted ideas that changed lives on a global scale. Have you ever thought of those leaders that contribute to change and influence people on a more local level?  They are out there. In fact, they are here in our community.

Saint Michael’s Foundation not only thinks about our local leaders, they celebrate them.  Four leaders will be presented with the Quality of Life Leadership Award during the 21^th Annual Community Leadership Celebration on Saturday, May 3 and you are invited.

The 2014 Quality of Life Leadership Award, offered annually by Saint Michael’s Foundation in recognition of leaders that significantly impact the lives of others, is awarded to Cheri Karch, Jim and Cliff King, and Gerry McKenna.

“Each one of this year’s honorees has made such an impact on our community,” shared Angie Heuck, Saint Michael’s Foundation Director. “They each lead by example. Anyone who has worked or volunteered beside these four will be inspired to work together to make our community a better place.”

Tickets for the Community Leadership Celebration are available through Saint Michael’s Foundation at 715-343-3259.

Saint Michael’s Foundation celebrates 25 years of caring for the community by encouraging charitable contributions for programs and services that enhance the quality of healthcare for patients and families served by Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital and Ministry Medical Group.

Saint Michael’s Foundation has invested nearly $3 million dollars to provide critical support to programs and initiatives that have improved the health of our community. Every act of philanthropy begins with a vision for a brighter future. We invite you to be a part of what’s next.

About Ministry Health Care

Ministry Health Care, which includes the recently acquired Affinity Health System, is an integrated health care delivery system serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Ministry operations generate more than $2.2 billion in annual operating revenue with 15 hospitals, 46 clinics and nearly 12,000 employees. More than 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide personalized care at Ministry primary and specialty care clinic locations. Home health care, hospice and long-term care services are also provided across the region.

Ministry was founded by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother more than 120 years ago to further the healing ministry of Jesus by continually improving the health and well-being of all people, especially the poor. Ministry is ranked among the top 20 percent of health care systems in the country by Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters.