News Releases

HASTINGS, Mich., February 19, 2026 – Corewell Health™ Foundation West Michigan at Corewell Health Pennock Hospital is now accepting Compassion Award nominations, and community members are encouraged to participate.  

The Compassion Award honors a Corewell Health Pennock Hospital team member or partner who consistently displays empathy, showing genuine care and concern for the well-being of others. Nominees are recognized by their peers for making a positive impact on patients and our community. They respect patient values, culture, choices and decisions, and their actions often inspire others to lead with greater compassion and kindness. 

Last year’s recipient, Dr. Oscar deGoa was recognized for his lifelong dedication to care and community. Dr. deGoa served on the medical staff at Corewell Health Pennock Hospital from 1971 to 2013, delivering more than 7,000 babies to families in the Hastings community. The Dr. Oscar and Cynthia deGoa Endowment for Parent and Nursing Education, which directly supports the Pennock Birthing Center, was the beneficiary of the 2025 Julep Gala. 

This year’s Compassion Award will be presented at Pennock Hospital’s Julep Gala on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Proceeds from this year’s gala will benefit Corewell Health Pennock Youth Behavioral Health Clinics operating in our local high schools.  

To make a nomination for this year’s Compassion Award, please submit your information online at https://wkf.ms/3ZtELec or contact Janine Dalman, foundation director, at Janine.Dalman@corewellhealth.org printable form. Nominations are due on or before Saturday, March 7, 2026. 

Tickets to this year’s Julep Gala can be purchased online by clicking here.  

###

About Corewell Health™  

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 16,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Media Contact:

Alexis Bolo Neal

alexis.boloneal@corewellhealth.org