- April 20, 2024
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For the past several years, Kathleen McKenna has attended the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award dinners as a member of the foundation.
But on Tuesday night, everything came full circle when McKenna was given the honor herself for 2012. She said she felt overwhelmed.
“It is with great admiration that we honor Kathleen as this year’s Humanitarian of the Year,” said John Subers, executive director of the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation. “This is a way to recognize and thank Kathleen for dedicating her time and talents to improving the health care of our community.”
After moving to Palm Coast from Pennsylvania, McKenna, who was a school principal at the time, decided to volunteer on Saturdays at the hospital. That was eight years ago.
In 2008 and 2009, she served as the president of the Florida Hospital Flagler Volunteer Auxiliary. Under her leadership, the volunteer roster rose to more than 300 members, and the volunteers collectively worked more than 1 million hours.
McKenna has been a board member of the foundation from its inception in 2009 until 2012,, and she was a founding member of the foundation’s 20/20 Society.
Over the past year and a half,, however, McKenna has had to take a step back from volunteering. In that time, she has battled breast cancer, radiation therapy and an autoimmune rheumatic disease. Even then, McKenna stayed involved with the foundation.
Being on the other end of the spectrum has put things into perspective, McKenna said.
“It was helpful to know so many people there — I felt comfortable,” McKenna said Thursday. “With what some people go through, I can’t complain. I’ve gotten great treatment, and I’m doing really well. The doctors were great, and the patient care was terrific, and I mean that very sincerely. You dread things like this, but sometimes, the reality isn’t as bad.”
What she once experienced by volunteering on Saturdays has turned into a lifestyle for McKenna. She said it’s been a great way to meet people from all different backgrounds.
McKenna said she first got involved on because “it was advertised so well,” and people told her they got a lot out of their volunteer experience.
“I think you know you’re doing something for the community and for people,” McKenna said, in regard to volunteering. “You feel as if you’re a part of a really good thing.”
McKenna and her husband, Chris, recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and have four sons and 11 grandchildren — eight of whom are adopted from South Korea, Haiti and Liberia.
McKenna said she plans on getting back to volunteering next year.
“I miss volunteering so much,” she said. “I can’t wait to get back.”
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