Cody Thacker was looking for a position that offered the opportunity to support Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), while simultaneously allowing him to become more involved in his community.
His search led him to his new position as PVCH Foundation director.
“This position affords me the opportunity to support our local, community hospital,” said Thacker, a Kansas native. “I have a strong respect for what this hospital means to Larned, Pawnee County and the surrounding area.
“In addition, I am now able to become better acquainted with more of my neighbors in central Kansas.”
As Foundation director, Thacker works closely with the non-profit entity’s Board of Trustees. They collaborate on community relations, fundraising projects and events, private-donation oversight, endowment management and capital campaigns.
“Gifts to the Foundation provide vital philanthropic support to help fund life-saving equipment, as well as special PVCH projects and programs that advance quality healthcare in our community,” Thacker noted. “This is the Foundation’s mission.
“A great example,” he elaborated, “is the Foundation’s capital campaign, which raised funds to bring 3D mammography to our hospital. This is the latest and most advanced breast imaging available today and we have the community to thank for it.”
In the short-term, Thacker is moving forward with Foundation projects already in motion.
“I also hope to suggest new ideas for consideration, while making it a priority to connect with individuals and businesses,” he commented. “I am eager to get to know as many community members as I can.
“Looking ahead, I want to work closely with the trustees to carry out the Foundation’s mission. In partnership with them and private donors, our goal is to satisfy the long-range healthcare needs of Pawnee County and the surrounding area.”
Thacker grew up just north of Offerle; his parents live on a farm there. He lives in Larned where his twin sister and one brother reside too.
He graduated from Spearville High School in 2010 and is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing through Fort Hays State University.
Previous employment includes area field manager at U-Haul International in Larned; sales representative at Midway MFG in Kinsley; clubhouse manager at Cimarron Golf Club in Cimarron; and sales representative for Lewis Automotive in Garden City.
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. The Pawnee Valley Medical Associates clinic, 713 W. 11th, provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.
