Representatives of Warsaw Community Schools and Lutheran Health Network Kosciusko Community Hospital have entered into a 10-year community partnership, with Lutheran donating $1 million to the district. The partnership will develop the school district’s athletic amenities, encourage overall community wellness and impact the health of area youth and faculty. An announcement was made before Friday night’s Warsaw Community High School boys basketball game against Plymouth that Lutheran Health Network KCH will donate $1 million to WCS. As part of the collaboration, WCS will use the funds for the enhancement of health education, wellness, academics, athletic programs and capital projects. Other parts of the sponsorship include: KCH Regional Rehabilitation Center providing athletic training and sports medicine services; a MedStat Fast Pass provided to WCS employees, allowing school staff to be seen more efficiently at MedStat locations in Warsaw, Syracuse and Nappanee; CPR training as well as other health education support. Lutheran staff said they are glad to partner with Warsaw Community Schools. "The KCH Board of Trustees believes that KCH's sponsorship will make a very positive long-term impact on area youth while demonstrating Lutheran Health Network Kosciusko Community Hospital's ongoing commitment to improving the health of local residents,” said Ron Robinson, KCH Board of Trustees chairman. Kirk Ray, Lutheran KCH chief executive officer, said, “The reasoning behind supporting Warsaw Community Schools in a meaningful way is the knowledge that thousands of area youth will be encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle.” He continued, “Not only will this have a positive long-term effect on Warsaw Community Schools’ youth, this sponsorship will strengthen a plethora of extracurricular and co-curricular programs to be enjoyed by all involved in area sports. The impetus of this partnership is to encourage health improvement through increasing physical activity and education.” Dr. David Hoffert, WCS superintendent, and Jennifer Tandy, WCS Board of School Trustees president, spoke about the partnership. “On behalf of the Board of School Trustees of WCS, we wish to express our appreciation and thanks to Lutheran Health Network KCH for its agreement to enter into this community partnership that directly benefits the students at Warsaw Community Schools,” Tandy said. “Our partnership with Lutheran Health Network KCH provides an opportunity for us to further support our mission statement by enriching the lives of our students through a focus on healthy living and physical activity through sports.” She said WCS looks forward to this collaborative partnership that will provide funds and resources to expand a wide variety of the school corporation’s athletic and wellness programs that equip students to continuously enhance their life skills. Hoffert said the school is happy to partner with Lutheran Health Network KCH. “Warsaw Community Schools is grateful for the longstanding relations with Lutheran Health Network through the KCH campus. For many years, KCH has been the sole provider of athletic trainers for our student athletes,” he said. Hoffert said this partnership will expand on that foundation to provide students, staff and community patrons the resources and facilities required to promote health and wellness. “We are extremely excited for the investment of time and resources being dedicated to Warsaw Community Schools. This investment will have an impact lasting for generations to come,” he said.
