Healthcare Foundation supports Friends Van with $100,000 donation
October 21, 2025
The Healthcare Foundation of Centralia, Illinois recently gifted $100,000 to the HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to support the hospital’s Friends Van, providing free transportation to medical, dental and other appointments.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support and generosity of The Healthcare Foundation,” said David Garris, Director of HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations. “With this generous contribution, St. Joseph’s Foundation will continue to provide help to our community members in need of transportation.”
The Healthcare Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that assists the medical needs of residents in Clinton, Marion, Jefferson and Washington Counties.
“Healthcare Foundation is proud to be able to support St. Joseph’s Friends Van and all that it does for the members of our community with this donation,” said Geni Zibby, member of the Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.
The Friends Van transportation service has provided over 1,000 rides annually since the program was started in 2018. The Friends Van prioritizes those in need of transportation to medical, pharmacy and dental appointments, but also provides free transportation for personal requests, such as shopping, nursing home visits and much more.
The Friends Van is wheelchair accessible and services all towns within a 20-mile radius of Breese that have appointments in Breese. The service is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule a ride, call 618-526-8254.
To learn more about the Friends Van, visit here.
Photo Caption: From left to right: Emily Wilson, Philanthropy Officer for HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations; Kevin Jansen, Friends Van driver; Becky Martin, Friends Van Director of Operations; Mark Ennen, Director of Finance for HSHS Southern Illinois Market; Christy Kuder, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Barb Norstrom, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Jan Albers, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Geni Zibby, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Mandi Ennen, Chief Administrative Officer for HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese; David Garris, Director of HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support and generosity of The Healthcare Foundation,” said David Garris, Director of HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations. “With this generous contribution, St. Joseph’s Foundation will continue to provide help to our community members in need of transportation.”
The Healthcare Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that assists the medical needs of residents in Clinton, Marion, Jefferson and Washington Counties.
“Healthcare Foundation is proud to be able to support St. Joseph’s Friends Van and all that it does for the members of our community with this donation,” said Geni Zibby, member of the Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors.
The Friends Van transportation service has provided over 1,000 rides annually since the program was started in 2018. The Friends Van prioritizes those in need of transportation to medical, pharmacy and dental appointments, but also provides free transportation for personal requests, such as shopping, nursing home visits and much more.
The Friends Van is wheelchair accessible and services all towns within a 20-mile radius of Breese that have appointments in Breese. The service is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule a ride, call 618-526-8254.
To learn more about the Friends Van, visit here.
Photo Caption: From left to right: Emily Wilson, Philanthropy Officer for HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations; Kevin Jansen, Friends Van driver; Becky Martin, Friends Van Director of Operations; Mark Ennen, Director of Finance for HSHS Southern Illinois Market; Christy Kuder, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Barb Norstrom, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Jan Albers, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Geni Zibby, Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors member; Mandi Ennen, Chief Administrative Officer for HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Breese; David Garris, Director of HSHS Southern Illinois Foundations.
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