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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) Foundation held its annual Pillars of Giving celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at the University of Jamestown Reiland Fine Arts Center. The celebration honored supporters of the JRMC Foundation, announced the Philanthropist of the Year and celebrated growth and future of care at JRMC.
During the celebration, the JRMC Foundation presented the 2015 Philanthropist of the Year Award to Patricia Dardis. The award is bestowed to an individual, couple, organization or business who has demonstrated exemplary civic engagement service and a commitment to local healthcare.
Dardis has dedicated her career to healthcare. As a graduate of the Jamestown College nursing program, she went on to receive her Master of Science (MS) for Adult Health, Parent-Child Nursing & Family Nurse from South Dakota State University.
Dardis spent 18 years of her career in primary care at Sanford Heath. She was also an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota for 16 years and most recently provided medication management to a diverse population of acutely and chronically mentally ill individuals at South Central Human Service Center.
In 2008, John Dardis, a life-long resident of Jamestown, N.D. passed away after a valiant battle with colon cancer. As a business owner, active community member, hunter, friend and family man, he was known for his honesty and generous giving of time and kind gestures.
After his passing, John’s wife, Patty and their family were inspired to develop the John Dardis Memorial Hospice Gift Fund as a way for John’s selfless nature to continue.
This fund has provided a sherpa blanket to every JRMC Hospice patient for comfort and warmth. The fund also supports small gifts of non-medical needs to help families during end-of-life care. This has included a night’s hotel room stay, in-home communion, birthday gifts, books, haircuts and other meaningful gifts.
In her acceptance speech, Dardis said she was “humbled to tears,” when she received the news of her award. She went on to say that the honor was not hers, but should go to her husband, John.
“This honor is not about me,” said Dardis. “It is about a man with a passion for the people of this geographic region, a man who would do anything he could to be helpful, supportive and giving. He was a selfless soul. This Gift Fund is John, and reflects his belief that we are here for the sole purpose to help one another.”
Attendees of the event also enjoyed appetizers and a special opportunity to listen to keynote speaker and published author, Rich Bluni, R.N.
Bluni, an inspirational speaker and best-selling author of the award winning books: Inspired Nurse and Inspired Journal, spoke of the challenges of working in healthcare, as well as the value of purpose and worthwhile work while making a difference.