by Elizabeth Wehman, editor
AFTER RECEIVING the Margaret S. Gulick Humanitarian of the Year Award on Monday, Dec. 5, Ann Marie Bentley is shown here holding her commemorative certificate with (from left) President of the Shiawassee Physicians Organization Dr. Michael Schmidt, Chairman of the Board of the Memorial Healthcare Board Tony Young, Peggy Gulick, Bentley, Memorial President and CEO Brian Long, and Memorial Healthcare Board Trustee Dr. Thomas Teal. (Independent Photo/Elizabeth Wehman)
Memorial Healthcare’s 2016 Annual Holiday Reception was hosted by the Memorial Healthcare Board and the Shiawassee Physician Organization at the Wrought Iron Grill on Monday, Dec. 5. The reception is a means to recognize individuals who have provided outstanding service to Memorial Healthcare and the community which includes awarding The Margaret S. Gulick Humanitarian of the Year Award. This year’s recipient was Ann Marie Bentley.
Bentley has been a member of the Memorial Healthcare Board of Trustees since 2002 and currently serves as Board Secretary as well as having served on many committees including the Executive, Market Growth Advisory, Nominating, Performance Improvement, and Finance. She has served as a member of the Foundation Board of Directors since 1991 and as its President from 2004-07. Dr. Tom Teal presented the award to Bentley and had this to say, “Ann works tirelessly to nurture and grow connections between Memorial Healthcare, the Foundation and communities throughout Shiawassee County. She provides generous financial support to the Foundation for the benefit of patients and has recently been welcomed into the Founder’s Society, the highest level of philanthropic support acknowledged by the Foundation. She’s been a contributor to many appeals, events and campaigns since the Foundation was created including this year’s Going to a Higher Level Campaign.”
Bentley has also held officer positions, chaired numerous committees, dedicating countless hours on behalf of Memorial Healthcare and the Foundation, the Alvin M. Bentley Foundation, Shiawassee YMCA, Oak Hill Cemetery, Shiawassee United Way, Zonta Club of Owosso, and others.
Dr. Teal added, “She holds a very personal and fervent interest in the activities and successes of Memorial Healthcare. She is compassionate, she will listen, and she will promote action. Her dedicated leadership and commitment to improving the quality of life and health in our community make her a very deserving candidate for Humanitarian of the Year.”
The Margaret S. Gulick Humanitarian of the Year Award was established, in 1988, as a means of recognizing individuals who have provided outstanding service to Memorial Healthcare and the community. Each year, the recipient is selected by a committee of former Humanitarians, Physicians, Trustees, Executives, and Directors.
Some past recipients of the award include: 1993 – Peggy Gulick, 2005 – Thomas M. Teal, M.D., 2006 – Thomas Cook, 2008 – Ronald M. Bishop, M.D., 2014 – Michael L. Ash, and 2015 – Dale E. Espich.
