Selfless Service Spotlight: Keogh Health Connection

To help champion the concept of selfless service, Keyser is shining the spotlight on organizations who are committed to serving others. Today, we'd like to feature Keogh Health Connection and how they are practicing selfless service through the work that they do.

Keogh Health Connection connects underserved individuals and families in need to healthcare and community resources. Keogh collaborates with many agencies that have established a trust relationship with working-poor families. Keogh focuses on agencies that help move families forward towards self-sufficiency, such as Head Start, training, and educational programs.

Here's our interview with Saundra Johnson, Executive Director of Keogh Health Connection, on how their organization practices selfless service.

Do you have a specific example or a story of selfless service that has happened at your organization?

The stories provided below highlight the work that the Keogh staff perform every day selflessly serving others:

"I had just gotten laid off when my daughter developed a very serious medical condition and I had no idea where to go for help. Then I met with a Keogh representative at Maricopa County Head Start. She helped me get through everything I needed to do, right there that afternoon on her computer. She explained the differences between the different healthcare programs, took me through the websites to go to and where to shop for the healthcare plan that worked best for us. She even helped me put together the information I needed to get us enrolled. It was the perfect end to an overwhelming time for me."

"I had a stroke, lost my job and couldn't afford my insurance anymore. I'd been healthy my whole life and never saw it coming. Now, I have no feeling on my left side and have a difficult time using my computer. But that didn't stop the Keogh people from helping me get what I needed. They explained how the new healthcare marketplace works; how to get my password logged in; how to shop for the plan I can afford, and how to get it all done. My new plan costs about half as much as the one I used to have. All I can say is thank you Keogh for helping this grateful guy."

"They never gave up on us. My son is seriously disabled. When budget cuts came along, we lost the care and rehab program he was on. We tried six times to enroll for a plan on the healthcare marketplace website with no success. Then we found a Keogh representative at the disability center we used to go to. She was relentless, constantly positive and just wouldn't let go until we were accepted and enrolled. Who says no one cares anymore?"

What are your organization’s values, and how does the idea of selfless service fit into those values?

At the core of our work is respect for every individual no matter their circumstances. Working through collaborations and exhibiting compassion and caring the Keogh staff strive to give people opportunities to become self-sufficient and create stronger communities.

Early on we recognized that we had to be in the places where needy people live, work and already go for care and assistance. Environments where they don’t feel threatened, intimidated or embarrassed. Since initiating services in 2004, more than 200,000 people have been touched by our direct and indirect programs. Many who would otherwise go without the basic health and human services. Keogh's staff exhibit selfless service every day understanding that each person has a unique situation and finding creative ways to help.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the world about the idea of selfless service?

Non-profit work is often challenging and requires creative, enthusiastic people who care about others and want the world to be a better place for everyone. I am personally blessed to work with a group of people that share the belief that the work that we do every day is the foundation for positive change even if only for one person.

Keyser is a commercial real estate advisory firm that is transforming the business world through selfless service. Our goal is to prove once and for all that the most self-interested business strategy in the world is to be of selfless service to others. Contact us today to see how we can be of service to you.