FHN Focus

June 20, 2024

Next Week's Calendar
of Events:

June 20

Blood Pressure Screening
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
New Jerusalem Soup Kitchen, 4 E. Iroquois, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

Sports Physical Clinic – Chadwick-Milledgeville 3-5 pm
Milledgeville High School, 100 E 8th Street - Milledgeville
Call 815-225-7141 to schedule an appointment. Forms must be printed, completed, and signed prior to arriving for physical. $25 fee (cash or check only) will be donated back to the school. These exams meet Illinois eligibility requirements for all sports and are good through the 2024-25 school year. These exams also meet Wisconsin eligibility requirements.

June 22

Blood Pressure Screening
9 - 11 a.m.
Pearl City United Methodist Church food pantry, 411 S. Main, Pearl City
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

Walk with a Doc
8 a.m.
Krape Park, 1799 S. Park Boulevard, Freeport
Free family- and pet-friendly walk and chat led by FHN providers and health professionals. Meet the group by the concession stand for this safe, fun, and FREE way to spend 30-45 minutes as you get some steps, learn about health, and meet new friends. Visit fhn.org/WWAD for more information and a schedule.

June 24

Living Through Grief
6 p.m.
FHN Memorial Hospital Deaconess Room, 1045 W. Stephenson Street, Freeport
This group helps participants learn more about the grief process, share stories of loss, and regain hope for healing. For more information, contact FHN Hospice 815-599-7240.

June 25

Sports Physical Clinic - Orangeville
3-5 pm
Orangeville Grade School Gymnasium, 201 S Orange St, Orangeville
No appointments needed. Forms must be printed, completed, and signed prior to arriving for physical. $25 fee (cash or check only) will be donated back to the school. These exams meet Illinois eligibility requirements for all sports and are good through the 2024-25 school year. These exams also meet Wisconsin eligibility requirements.

Sports Physical Clinic - Stockton
2-5 pm
FHN Jo Daviess Family Healthcare Center, 600 N. Rush Street, Stockton
Call 815-947-3211 to schedule an appointment. Forms must be printed, completed, and signed prior to arriving for physical. $25 fee (cash or check only) will be donated back to the school. These exams meet Illinois eligibility requirements for all sports and are good through the 2024-25 school year. These exams also meet Wisconsin eligibility requirements.

June 26

Caregiver Support Group
2 - 3:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Free group for those who provide care to a family member, friend, or member of the community. Open-forum discussion and a chance to ask questions and share resources. Visit fhn.org/caregivers for the secure Zoom link or contact Sean Huguenin at 815-599-6160 for more information.

June 27

Blood Pressure Screening
1 - 4 p.m.
FACC, 514 S. Chicago, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

Breastfeeding Support Group
2 p.m.
Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport
Bring your baby and join other moms to share knowledge and talk about the most up-to-date breastfeeding information. Discussions will be led by lactation experts from the FHN/SCHD Breastfeeding Task Force. This group is open to all moms and free to attend; visit fhn.org/breastfeedingtaskforce for more information.

June 28

Blood Pressure Screening
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Golden Meals, 524 W. Stephenson Street, Lower Level, Freeport
Open to the public; no cost or registration required.

June 29

Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer
8 a.m. start
Tutty’s Crossing Trailhead, 250 E. Stephenson Street, Freeport
Enjoy a healthy bike ride through some of the most beautiful roads in northwest Illinois while fighting cancer! Family Fun Ride or 30-, 50-, and 75-mile routes available. Please dedicate your ride to those who are battling or have battled cancer. In lieu of registration fee, donate online at fhn.org/granfonda. More information online or call 815-599-6900.

View all events

View past issues of the Focus

Welcome

Coming up in this week's issue of The Focus you'll find:

FHN Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer is June 29
FHN Healthcare Scholarships
FHN Employee Discounts
Help Spread the News: We’re Here, For You!
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health
Classified Ads

FHN Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer is June 29

Area cyclists and families are invited to enjoy some healthy exercise and see some of the area’s most beautiful roads as part of this year’s Gran Fonda Tour Against Cancer.

Dave Fonda, the founder of and inspiration for this event, loved cycling and his community. He began this fundraiser in 2007, dedicated to parlaying his passion into a cause that could help those fighting cancer. Dave lost his own battle with cancer in 2018, and the event has been renamed in his honor. (A Gran Fondo – Italian for “Big Ride” – is a timed long-distance road cycling ride officially defined by the Italian Cycling Federation as being at least 75 miles long.)

The event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 29 at Tutty’s Crossing, 238 E. Stephenson Street in Freeport. Riders can choose from a number of our “classic” routes including a 5-mile out-and-back route on the trail for families with young children; the standard 30-, 50-, and 75-mile road routes; a 30-mile to Orangeville and back trail route; and new 40- and 50-mile gravel routes.

The registration fee is $25. For more information and to register or donate, visit fhn.org/granfonda.

This year’s sponsors are Premier, McPherson Law Offices and Winter Construction; Platinum – Paramount Oncology Group Management; Gold - Cornerstone Credit Union, Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning; Lucas Group Financial Advisors and CPAs and State Bank; Silver – Citizens State Bank, Highland Community College and HCC Foundation; Bronze – ELKAY, Pearson’s Plumbing and Heating, Reed’s Auto Repair and Sanitary Cleaners.

FHN Healthcare Scholarships

FHN is again proud to offer multiple scholarships for students in the FHN service area who are pursuing careers in healthcare.

Several scholarships are currently being offered, each with different application criteria and financial amounts.

• Healthcare Career Scholarship Program for up to three $1,000 scholarships
• Diversity Healthcare Career Scholarship Program for up to one $1000 scholarship
• Volunteer Services Scholarship Program for an active member of the FHN Student Volunteer Program with a minimum of 40 volunteer hours

The deadline for all applicants is Friday, September 6. For more information and application forms for each scholarship, visit fhn.org/scholarships or contact [email protected].

FHN Employee Discounts

Vizient Employee Discounts

To register for a free account with Abenity, enter “FHN” in the organization name field, and you’ll be directed to the Abenity dashboard. Navigate to the employee discount/perk that you’re looking for using the website’s menu system or search bar. You can also download the free, convenient Abenity app via the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Then follow the steps provided to access the discount.

• At the bottom of the main Abenity dashboard page, there are ways to look up categories of products, how-to videos, etc. Clicking on “New” or “Popular” will give you the list of products that people often ask about (rental cars, electronics, etc.)
• Abenity has discounts for zoos, amusement parks, museums, etc. in IL and elsewhere
• Neither Vizient nor FHN can guarantee that these employee discounts are the best deals available. You may be able to shop around for better deals via Groupon or other programs.

Example: Cellphone Discounts

Verizon Wireless
• Existing Verizon customers should look for the heading: “Already have a Verizon Wireless account?” and click the small arrow ( > ) underneath. Sign into your Verizon mobile account and follow the steps provided. For assistance, call the Verizon wireless employee validation center at 800-890-8007.
• New Verizon customers should go to a Verizon store to create an account and choose a plan or call the new account hotline at 800-922-0204.

AT&T Wireless
• Existing AT&T customers should log into their account and follow the steps provided. For assistance, call the AT&T wireless business division at 800-331-0500.
• New AT&T customers should go to an AT&T store to create an account and choose a plan (or call the new account hotline at 866-945-8251.) (NOTE: There is an option to print a coupon to bring to an AT&T store, but this will not work in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Iowa)
You will need to provide them with Foundation Account Number (FAN #): 02562984.

US Cellular

FHN employees are eligible for a Partner Employee Discount (PED) through US Cellular. (This offer is not through Vizient or Abenity). The discount is up to 15% off on qualified plans. See a US Cellular associate for more details. If requested, please provide the US Cellular representative with this PED code: PED4551. You will also be asked to verify your employment with FHN, which you can do by showing a paycheck stub or an employee name badge, and show a valid driver’s license or state ID.

Brown's Shoe Fit

FHN employees are eligible for a 15 percent discount on shoes from Brown's Shoe Fit in Freeport when you present your employee name badge. Payroll deduction is also available.

Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois

FHN employees get 15 percent off all membership categories with no joiner fee or contract required, a free 7-week group swim session for employee's child, one free personal training consultation and health and wellness orientation, plus free land and water fitness classes. Free childcare available to all YMCA members while working out or swimming.

Butitta Brothers Automotive (Freeport)

FHN employees are eligible for a 10 percent discount on any service over $100, and will do scheduled pickup/delivery of staff vehicles while at work.

Advantage Marketplace

FHN team members have access to thousands of other discounts on the FHN Staff Advantage Marketplace.

Help Spread the News: We’re Here, For You!

We have a lot to be proud of at FHN, from our talented, dedicated staff to the many advanced capabilities we offer our patients. We’re working hard every day to be sure we provide excellent care to our patients.

Each week, look to the Focus for good news to share about FHN in the form of downloadable flyers you can print and post or hand out to patients who may be interested. Also look for links to our most recent radio interviews and past interviews to listen to and recommend to others. Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook! Please encourage patients, friends, and family to also take advantage of these FHN information resources. Thanks for your help in promoting FHN!

Have you heard the latest radio interviews? Catch up on our Radio Broadcasts page!

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion and Worldwide Health

June is …

Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

Cataract Awareness Month

Men’s Health Month

Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month

National Aphasia Awareness Month

National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month

National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month

National Scleroderma Awareness Month

PTSD Awareness Month

Scoliosis Awareness Month

Weeks to Note:

June 25 – July 1 is Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Days to Note:

June 25 is World Vitiligo Day

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, as declared by the Canadian Parliament in 2009. It is a tribute to the heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities across Canada. It’s an opportunity not only to recognize the historic contributions of indigenous peoples to the development of Canada, but also the strength of present-day indigenous communities and their promise for the future.

The United States as well as Canada and Australia observe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month in June. Events are celebrated by communities across the nations on different dates from June through early August. The most significant date in LGBT history occurring in June was the three-day protest in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, an event that marked the first time the gay community joined together to fight for its rights, thereby gaining national attention. The anniversary of this event was one of the reasons June was chosen as the nationally proclaimed month to celebrate LGBT pride.

National Caribbean American Heritage Month, celebrated across the United States in June, was proclaimed in 2011. It commemorates a time to celebrate the history and culture of Caribbean Americans.

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. The outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis are recognized.

For people of the Wiccan faith, June 21 is Litha, which falls on the summer solstice. The Latin word solstice means “the sun stood still.” Wiccans celebrate the sun at the height of its power for providing good harvests.

In Peru, Inti Raymi is celebrated June 21 in Cusco – the second-biggest festival in Latin America. This Inca festival celebrates the winter solstice, where the God of the Sun, Wiracocha, is honored.

June 23 is Pentecost for those of the Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. The Holy Spirit was felt amongst the 12 apostles after Jesus’ death. New members of the church are baptized on this day. It is called White Sunday because white clothes are worn for baptism.

The Aboriginal and Maori population of New Zealand celebrates Matariki on June 24. When the star cluster Matariki (Pleiades) appears in the dawn sky, Maori New Year starts. Festivities begin with the new moon after the first appearance of Matariki and last for a month. It is a time for connecting with and giving thanks to the land, sea, and sky, for the community to come together to farewell the dead and to begin planning ahead for the new year.

In Puerto Rico, June 24 is Dia de San Juan, commemorating the island’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. People gather at the beaches in the afternoon and at midnight, jump into the ocean backwards three times to symbolize baptism, immersion, and new life. The celebration continues with families gathering to enjoy music, food, and dancing.

Canada also celebrates John the Baptist with St. Jean Baptiste Day on June 24. He is the patron saint of French-Canadians in Quebec. It is a national holiday and there are parades, bonfires, and fireworks to celebrate his birthday.

Classified Ads

DROP LEAF TABLE FOR SALE - 24" wide by 34" with 2 leaves hidden in table (drop leaf is 14") and 4 chairs. Needs TLC, has been painted, asking $175 Can text pictures. 815-821-5441,if no answer, leave message.

FREE WINDOW PANES, oak - most with glass. 815-821-5441,if no answer, leave message.

FREE CATS: 4-yr old black/white, neutered, front declawed and 3-yr old calico, spayed, front declawed. 815-821-5441, if no answer, leave message.

The deadline to submit ads for each Focus is 10 a.m. the Thursday before publication. Please submit your classified ad information to Tammy Edler, and send your donation to the Foundation.