LOCAL SHIIP-SMP COUNSELOR RECEIVES GOVERNOR’S VOLUNTEER AWARD

SHIIP/SMP Counselors with Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will receive a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held on July 21, 2023, in Ottumwa, Iowa.

George Gruenther, West Burlington and Mike Price, Keokuk, will both be honored with a 10-year service award and Chuck Holmes, Fort Madison will be honored with a 5-year service award by Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). These counselors provide guidance to individuals, families and caregivers on how to navigate their Medicare and identify plans and resources that work for them. Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will also be recognized for 30 years of being a certified SHIIP site.

“Iowans take great pride in their deep and rich commitment for serving others—it’s in our DNA,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Iowa nice is the foundation of our state--you see it everywhere you turn-- Iowans volunteering their time to help others and improve their communities and our state. It truly is an honor to be able to recognize these individuals for their meaningful acts of generosity through the Governor’s Volunteer Awards and inspire others to do the same.”

Kristen Griffith, SHIIP-SMP Director, shares “SHIIP-SMP Counselors are some of the best volunteers and people you could ever work with. They care deeply about their community members, and consistently go above and beyond to provide unbiased and trustworthy information helping individuals and their families navigate the complexity of Medicare.”

Dr. Michael McCoy, President & CEO of Great River Health, also shared their congratulations – stating, “We are very proud to be able to offer this service in our communities. George, Mike and Chuck have dedicated countless hours to helping people understand their Medicare options. We are fortunate to have them as part of our team.”

More than 500 awards are being presented this year during five ceremonies across Iowa. It is estimated that more than 150 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees.

Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor's Volunteer Award program—now in its 39th year—provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award. A complete list of award recipients and an electronic copy of this news release are available at volunteeriowa.org.