Fort HealthCare and Michael Clish (formerly of WFAW) have been chosen for the 2020 Heart of the City “Big Heart Award,” which will be presented at the Fort Memorial Hospital on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. in the hospital mezzanine lobby. With such truly deserving nominees, this is the first time in the 14 years of honoring community members that two recipients will receive the award.
The Lue Ehinger Big Heart Award is an annual award presented in February, close to or on Valentines Day, to acknowledge contributions made to the Fort Atkinson community relating to the mission of Heart of the City. Our dear member Lue Ehinger had one of the biggest hearts of all, and we wish that she be memorialized as others carry on in her tradition.
Since 1942, Fort HealthCare (Fort Memorial Hospital) has provided exemplary care to our community. In the past two decades, their commitment to improving the health and wellness of the community, while providing opportunities and information for people to play an active role in their own wellness, has played a crucial role in connecting people to health care resources and services throughout the county. Their commitment, presence and participation have been a reassurance to our community and have been vitally important during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Heart of the City also honors Michael Clish, news reporter and on-air host, who has retired from WFAW, WSJY, WKCH after 25 years of service. Michael has been steadfast in his commitment to providing coverage of important meetings in our community, promoting nonprofit groups that in turn support the quality of life in Fort Atkinson. He cares about the integrity of journalism and the role it plays to inform and engage our citizens.
Michael helped people tell their stories while weaving the influence of the past with the hopes of the future. Michael created links among citizens, the groups with whom they worked and the people they needed to reach.
From moderating political conversations, performing countless interviews highlighting initiatives in surrounding communities, building momentum for projects in our city, promoting our local festivals and being a consistent presence at City Council and School board meetings; Michael has been our anchor, earpiece and sounding board. As Ann Engleman so aptly put it, “Michael embodies the spirit of this award.” She also suspects he must be aware of the fact that he entertained farmers and cows in many a barn as mornings dawned. Mmmmmmoooooooo!”
A big “thank you” to Fort Health Care and Michael Clish is extended.
Heart of the City is a group of citizens interested in maintaining the small town character and quality of life found in our community. To find more information go to http://heartofthecity.us and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Heart-of-the-City-325874885646/.
Editor’s note: see related story: Building ‘Heart’ in Fort.
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This is such an important story! Thank you. And, you scooped the Daily Union! Heart of the City is vigilant on all things Fort Atkinson. Looking forward to more local coverage in FortAtkinsonOnline. Many thanks!