Each year, The Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, celebrates and honors four individuals during the Spirit of Courage event to share their stories of courage during their battles with cancer. 

Our company has long been a sponsor and lends volunteer support for the golf tournament, evening gala and auction. Each golf team is paired with a famous golfer NOT on the PGA tour – i.e. actors and local sports heroes. This year our team was joined by Grace Bannon, a comedian and actress who has appeared in several television series. The gala reached a record attendance of more than 750 participants raising funds to benefit patients fighting cancer. 

Pete Hamell, Iowa general manager, gas operations, remarked, “I had the opportunity to share a wonderful evening with the Spirit of Courage nominees and the countless supporters of this great organization. I am in awe of their courage to continue to fight and their willingness to share their stories with all of us. It is a great blessing to work for an organization that is committed to supporting the many organizations doing great work in our communities.”

Since 2003, the annual Spirit of Courage events have raised over $2 million. All proceeds are donated to the Spirit of Courage Cancer Center Charitable Patient Care Fund, which assists uninsured and underinsured patients who need help covering expenses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This fund assists patients by paying for medications, treatments and deductibles as well as everyday living expenses such as groceries, rent and gas. Without this type of financial help, many vulnerable members of our community would need to forgo vital treatments and/or medications.

We partner with our communities and customers, providing the kind of energy that fuels those areas and the lives of those we serve. Feel free to share the stories and photos. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest for more!