Lorenzo 'Zo' Williams mural dedicated; golf weekend set for July

Lorenzo "Zo" Williams, of MU football and NFL fame, recently visited Cox South for the dedication of a mural in his honor on the pediatric floor. The mural, which features Williams on the golf course along with his daughters and a few teammates, recognizes Williams for his charitable efforts via the annual "Lorenzo Williams & Friends Charity Weekend." The event benefits Children's Miracle Network.

As the mural was unveiled, Williams admired the detail in the painting - "I look kinda skinny, which is awesome" - before reminding the crowd that he prefers to keep the focus on the kids.

"I don't like to take credit for things that you're just supposed to do," he says. "You're supposed to help people out, that's what God put us here for."

Williams was a three-year defensive starter for the Missouri Tigers from 2003-2007. Following his college career, he spent time in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers.

In July 2010, Williams led the inaugural "Lorenzo Williams Celebrity Pro-Am" golf tournament at the Millwood Golf & Racquet Club - an event that raised almost $25,000 for CMN. The tournament featured several MU football alumni, including Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles), Sean Weatherspoon (Atlanta Falcons), Danario Alexander (St. Louis Rams) and Martin Rucker (Dallas Cowboys).

Williams originally became involved with CMN after the birth of his twin daughters.

"CMN has a special place in my heart. My daughters were born two months premature and they spent time here in the NICU at Cox South," he says. "I saw a chance to give back to CMN and we had a great time doing it."

The first year was so successful, Williams and his fellow players are planning to make the tournament a regular event. The 2011 "Lorenzo Williams Celebrity Pro-Am" will be held on Fri., July 8, with a benefit youth football camp slated for Sat., July 9.

"We love to come down to Springfield; it's like a family reunion for us getting together and talking about old times," Williams says. "And we get to help kids out with the football camp and with the golf tournament."

Golf tournament raises funds for ALS care

Pictured above: Tyler Watskey, Chairman Julian ALS Foundation board; Rodney Arnold, Skaggs Foundation; Lisa Alexander, President, CoxHealth Foundation; and Chris Vinton, Julian ALS Foundation board member.

Patients with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in the Ozarks have another resource for their care thanks to this year's Julian Golf Tournament. Held in Branson at LedgeStone Country Club on September 20th, the event raised $45,000.

A check for $17,000 was presented to the CoxHealth Foundation, $10,000 to the Skaggs Community Health Center Foundation and $18,000 to the ALS TDI organization for research.

CoxHealth provided care to Jeff Julian, a PGA golfer who was diagnosed with ALS in the prime of his life. Julian's wife was from the Branson area and he came back to this region during the final months of his life.

Grateful for the outstanding care he received, his family chose to honor both hospitals with support for ALS patients annually from this tournament. CoxHealth has a room in the new ER dedicated to Julian and will continue to use funds for direct patient needs, communication devices and other needs related to ALS care.

CMN Christmas drive benefits CoxHealth's pediatric patients

This Christmas, you can help the thousands of children that are treated at CoxHealth each year by donating to the Children’s Miracle Network Christmas Drive.

CMN is seeking donations of a variety of newly purchased items, including coloring books, playing cards, board games, action figures, personal care items, DVDs, video games, scrapbooking supplies and more. For a complete list of needed items, visit the Children’s Miracle Network “Current Fundraising Programs” page on www.coxhealth.com.

All donations will be used in the CoxHealth Pediatric unit, CoxHealth Pediatric Urgent Care, Child and Adolescent Psych unit, Pediatric Outpatient Therapies area, Infusion Center and the Neonatal Intensive Care unit. You can drop off your donations anytime during business hours at the CMN office inside the Medical South building, 3525 S. National, Ste. 203. Donations will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 17. For more information, call CMN at 269-6853.

Honor Flight heroes welcomed home

The final Ozarks Honor Flight of 2010 arrived last night at Springfield-Branson National Airport. The nearly 80 veterans on board were greeted with fanfare by hundreds of community members, including officers from CoxHealth's Honor Guard.

Check out a few images from last night's event and watch for an upcoming Connection package with a few CoxHealth volunteers who were among the veterans on recent flights.

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make it a great day honoring all of those who have sacrificed to serve our nation.

Collecting coats for kids in need

Case Management staff with a few of the coats they’ve collected so far (from left): Sara Busby, Donna Morris, Libby Brill, Billie Gibbens and Jeannine Wilson.

Would you like to do a good deed to help kids in the Ozarks? Staff in Case Management at Cox South are currently collecting new coats for students in need at Springfield schools.

The team had originally planned the coat drive as a holiday service project, but when they heard schools had waiting lists for coats, they started right away.

"We just decided that there should not be a child waiting for a coat," says care coordinator Billie Gibbens. "Now we have not just our department but departments from all over the hospital bringing coats in."

In their first week, they collected 30 donated coats and they’re planning to continue the drive until the demand is met. Gibbens says that if the project is able to meet all of the need in Springfield, they’ll begin to work with schools around the region to distribute coats.

Anyone interested in donating new children’s coats, hats and gloves may contact Case Management at 269-6114.