Lori Stephenson

When Lori Stephenson moved back to Burlington in 2015, she immediately looked for an opportunity to volunteer.

“It’s important to me to be an active member and contributor to the community in which I live,” she said. “I saw the hospital as the heart of the community and serving on the Foundation Board was a great way to get reconnected to Burlington.”

As Lori completes her six-year term on the Foundation Board of Directors, she looks back proudly on the launch of the Join the J campaign.

“I joined right around the time we launched Join the J. I’m particularly proud to see the branding take root and to be a part of helping to grow that recognition,” she said. “It’s important for the community to connect the work of the Foundation with our Hospital. Join the J has helped strengthen that awareness.”

For Lori, volunteering with the Foundation has helped grow her appreciation for healthcare and healthcare workers.

“We take a lot of our healthcare system for granted because we’ve been told healthcare is provided to us, we don’t fully appreciate how much isn’t a given,” she said. “My time on the board really helped me understand that while our taxes go to provide a level of healthcare support, it isn’t enough. So much of what someone sees and experiences within the Hospital is a result of direct support to the Foundation.”

Lori is proud to live in Burlington and encourages everyone to consider their role in community building.

“We are fortunate enough to live in one of the top-rated cities in the country, and that doesn’t just happen,” she said. “We all have a responsibility to ensure future generations experience the same or better … and that doesn’t come from watching others.”

We recognize Lori and thank all the Foundation volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

View More Stories Take Me There