Kim Moore, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund’s first president, is retiring at the end of January 2018 after a 30-year career with the Hutchinson-based philanthropy. In honor of Moore’s leadership and service, a public reception is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Main Street Event, 2 North Main, Hutchinson, with remarks at 4. No RSVP is necessary.
For those wishing to honor Kim on the occasion of his retirement, a scholarship has been established in his name at Southwestern College. The fund’s board of directors will match all contributions (up to $10,000) received by Dec. 20. Checks payable to Southwestern College may be forwarded to the Health Fund (PO Box 1384, Hutchinson, KS 67504-1384) or given to a staff member at the reception or office. Email healthfund@healthfund.org with any questions.
In 1987, the 22 charter trustees of the fund selected Moore as the fund’s first president, from a pool of 150 applicants nationwide. With his leadership, the fund has invested more than $68 million in grants supporting nearly 2200 projects to improve the health, healing, and wholeness of Kansans.
Rev. Max Clayton, board chair, highlighted how Moore’s leadership has shaped the organization over the years.
“The culture of the fund – its DNA, its way of operating, one might even say its personality – has been informed by Kim’s vision, passion, and embrace of constant learning and innovation. Our successes – and just as importantly, our willingness to take risks; to try though we may fail – have been made possible in large part by Kim’s ability to assess a problem, bring together the right people to address it, and nurture the solution until it takes lasting hold,” Clayton said.
The fund has taken a broad view of health – physical, social, spiritual, and mental/emotional health – focusing on the whole person. A long-running oral health initiative treated the health of the mouth as integral to the health of the body. The fund’s breastfeeding initiative reduces disease while improving not only nutrition but also bonding and emotional health for mother and child. The current NeuroNurture campaign addresses early childhood toxic stress, which can negatively “rewire” the brain in lasting ways and predispose the body to chronic disease later in life. The fund continues to support innovation and sustainability in health delivery systems (particularly in increasingly vulnerable rural areas) and in equitable payment models assuring individual access and provider viability. The fund’s Healthy Congregations Initiative supports United Methodist churches in organizing effective congregational health ministry and in serving as faith-based assets through more than seventy local teams communities throughout Kansas and Nebraska.
Prior to joining the Fund, Moore was an attorney for 11 years in Kansas’ largest law firm, Foulston Siefkin in Wichita. He emphasized employee benefits and tax-exempt organizations in his practice. He was also a former Law Clerk for Delmas C. Hill, U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Kim grew up in Longton, Kansas, where he still owns a small tenant-operated farm. He received his B.S. in history and political science from Southwestern College, and his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law. At Washburn, he was editor-In-chief of the law review. He also holds a certificate of nonprofit management from Wichita State University.
Moore is an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he frequently teaches the Serendipity Sunday school class and serves on the finance committee. Moore currently serves on the board of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center after two stints as Board Chair. Kim is also a member of the board of the Kansas Hospital Association. He joined the Southwestern College Board in July 2013 and is chair of the Business Affairs Committee and a member of Executive Committee. He also serves on the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits, Great Plains Conference and the Conference Investment Committee. As a result of his position with the Fund, he is involved in many statewide organizations. He has special interest in nonprofit governance, public education, leadership development and investments. He is a member of Rotary and a men’s book club.
Moore commented on his upcoming retirement, “My work at the fund has given me 30 years of great associations and opportunities. The staff and board members over the years have helped me grow, learn and persevere during all seasons of our work to improve the health of Kansans. I look forward to a new stage of my life and hope to find some part-time nonprofit consultative work to add to my plans for more family time, gardening, travel and reading those dozens of books waiting for me.”
United Methodist Health Ministry Fund was formed in 1986 by the former Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church with $30 million of the proceeds from the sale of Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Since its founding, the Hutchinson-based Health Fund has invested more than $68 million in grants to improve the health of Kansans, with a special focus on the western two-thirds of the state.
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