In April, Kettering Health Young Professionals (KHYP) hosted its 14th annual Spring Into Health 5k fundraiser. The event welcomed 257 runners, including over 100 employee runners as well as volunteers, and raised $5,700 for Good Neighbor House.
Jayci Spencer, KHYP secretary and lead event planner, celebrated the successful event.
“It is an incredible feeling knowing that we were able to donate such a significant amount,” she said. “Our goal each year is to increase the donation which in turn helps with healthcare costs increasing or expanding the support to help more people in need.”
Good Neighbor House is a local nonprofit supporting the underserved in the community. The $5,700 raised came from event registrations, contributions from local businesses, and individual donations.
“Kettering Health’s mission is to improve the quality of life of the people in the community, and the donation that we are able to give to Good Neighbor House will provide people with no insurance a chance to receive quality health and dental services,” she said. “This aligns exactly with our mission.”
Community then and now
Jayci works at the Kettering Health Cancer Center as a patient access manager. She said community has always held a special place in her heart.
“Being able to give back to the people we serve every day is so gratifying. As a child, I was provided opportunities because of others’ generosity (including a scholarship to attend private Catholic school for one year),” she said. “I am grateful that now as an adult and part of this organization, we can provide that support back to people in need.”
KHYP is a professional development group for Kettering Health employees between the ages of 20 and 35. The group is focused on creating opportunities for young professionals to connect with one another outside of work to foster growth, inspiration, and networking. They plan a few speaking events during the year, as well as social events.
The goal for this year’s 5k, according to Jayci, was to have 200 runners, which they exceeded. This was a significant increase from last year’s 187 runners. She says they hope to increase the amount donated each year. And the more participants they have, the better their chances: “We are able to help more people.”
The race started and ended at Kettering College. All race finishers were entered into a prize drawing, and additional prizes were awarded to best overall male and female finishers, as well as male and female 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place finishers in each age group. Two team awards were also given.
“We had many people come up to us at the event grateful that we continued the race this year,” she said. “They look forward to this event every year.”
Supporting the mission of Good Neighbor House
Good Neighbor House provides food pantry services, health promotion, clothing, and household items to underserved individuals and families in Greater Dayton. The nonprofit organization was founded by eight Dayton-area Seventh-day Adventist churches in 1994.
Good Neighbor House offers a dental clinic, medical clinic, eye clinic, special dietary needs program, counseling, pharmaceutical dispensary, and a food pantry.
Kettering Health and Good Neighbor House are longtime partners because, as Jayci put it, “They align with our mission and are closely related to the organization.”
Beyond the donation from the 5k, Kettering Health supports Good Neighbor House in many ways. Kettering Health supported the development of the new medical clinic at Good Neighbor House, and medical residents serve there as part of their rotations.
Kettering Health also organizes system-wide initiatives like food drives and coat drives to support Good Neighbor House. In addition, several of Kettering Health’s contractors and suppliers have provided services and supplies at a discounted rate or even free of charge.
