Cassano Employee Shares Disney Trip
with Co-workers … and Helps Local Kids

Mary Wolf is the type of person who, when receiving a gift, shares it with others. Mary, X-ray technician for the Cassano Health Center, is the winner of a trip to Walt Disney World. She decided to take three of her co-workers with her to sunny Florida by offering $20 chances. She quickly collected $140 and she plans to donate it to the Cassano Children’s Christmas Fund to be put toward their annual holiday event for underserved local youth. And she has three travel companions to accompany her when the trip happens in October: Karen Freiberger, Karen Thomas and Kara Paxson.

“It is so special, and I have never won anything! I am still in shock about it, and the girls here had to tell me later what my actual reaction was because I didn’t remember,” she jokes. “I just know my mouth fell open and then, the tears came. That day was really special.”
Mary, a Cassano employee since it opened in 2003, was chosen as the trip winner in a random draw of 72 “Employees of the Month” for Kettering Health Network facilities from last year. At the end of each year, the monthly winners are placed in a hat with one lucky person’s name being drawn to win the trip.

She won a four-day, three-night stay in Orlando, Fla., complete with Disney hotel accommodations, tickets each day for any Disney park, $200 spending cash and round-trip air fare for four people. The trip is generously donated by the Dayton Dragons through their partnership with Kettering Health Network, a season sponsor.

Approximately six employees are chosen each month by the Network Rewards & Recognition Team from Star Search nominations received from patients, peers and colleagues. Stories submitted share how employees exemplify the organization’s values and the resulting positive outcomes with patients and team members.

“Each of the KHN Employees of the Month goes to a Dragons game as part of their VIP, red-carpet experience, and I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons president. “There are so many caring individuals and tremendous people at Kettering Health Network, so we came up with an idea to offer a grand prize Disney trip to one of them each year. What a thrill it is to give this trip to folks who work so hard to care for each of us.”