Volunteers in Medicine will present Delores Barr Weaver with its highest honor Feb. 8, when the nonprofit organization hosts its inaugural “Women with Heart” luncheon.
Weaver will receive the “Dorion-Burt Heart of Gold Award” named for Volunteers in Medicine co-founders Dottie Dorion and Dr. Jim Burt at the luncheon, to be held at the Florida Blue conference center at its Deerwood Campus.
“Delores Barr Weaver has repeatedly demonstrated her generosity to those who desperately need healthcare, but because they earn too much to qualify for government programs and too little to afford the costly deductibles and co-pays offered through the Affordable Care Act, can often fall through the healthcare cracks,” Dorion said.
Board Chair Corey Meyers noted that in the past year, Weaver has awarded the organization two $100,000 challenge grants that enabled Volunteers in Medicine to expand its services through the creation of new initiatives.
“Her confidence in us serves as the ultimate affirmation that she believes in our model, our leadership and the impact we are making for Northeast Florida's hard-working, uninsured individuals and families,” Meyers said.
Women with Heart
The luncheon will also honor 11 women who also support Volunteers in Medicine’s mission to provide medical care to low-income, working individuals and families. Honorees will include Aimee Boggs, Dr. Annie Egan, Rep. Mia Jones, Paula Liang, Rev. Kate Moorehead, Helen Morse, Dr. Kathryn Pearson Peyton, Nicole Thomas, Susan Towler, Lisa Weatherby and Tracy Williams.
“Each of these women is a leader in our community and shares Mrs. Weaver’s commitment to making our community a great place in which to live and work,” Volunteers in Medicine CEO Mary Pat Corrigan said. “With their individual circles of influence, we believe we will significantly increase the recognition of the valuable work we are doing to keep our vulnerable, hard-working and uninsured families and individuals healthy, employed and out of our hospital emergency rooms.”
In addition to presenting sponsor Florida Blue, sponsors of the “Women with Heart” luncheon include Beard’s Jewelers, Bacardi, Publix Supermarket Charities, Raymond James, Baptist Hospitals, First Tennessee Bank, Smith Hulsey & Busey and Arlington Toyota.
