Press Release
Public Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kittitas County Public Health Champion Award

Kittitas County, WA - 03/17/2025 - The Kittitas County Board of Health Advisory Committee (BOHAC) is sponsoring the eleventh annual Kittitas County Public Health Champion award. The award is intended to honor and recognize individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant contributions to the health of Kittitas County. This award is made possible by a generous donation from former Kittitas County Health Officer Jim Gale.

Any individual, group, or organization that has positively influenced the health of Kittitas County and its residents may be nominated.  Anyone can submit a nomination for the award, including self-nomination.
 
Nomination forms are available online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health or at the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD).  Nominations should be sent to KCPHD by April 18, 2025.  Nominations can be mailed to 507 N. Nanum St., Suite 102, Ellensburg, WA, 98926 or emailed to publichealth@co.kittitas.wa.us.
 
BOHAC will review the applications and choose a recipient.  An award in the amount of $500.00 will be presented for current or future projects that contribute to the health of Kittitas County. The recipient will be notified by end of May 14.
 
Examples of previous Public Health Champion Awards are as follows:

• 2015 City of Ellensburg Parks and Recreation for noteworthy work regarding the breadth of programming for residents across the lifespan.
• 2016 Dr. Paul Schmitt for his years of service as a health care provider and his dedication to the health of his community.
• 2017 Kittitas County Early Learning Coalition for the coalition’s work to improve the health and success of young children and their families.
• 2018 Open Door Health Clinic for the clinic’s mission to provide basic medical care for people living on low incomes without insurance or readily accessible healthcare.
• 2019 APOYO in recognition of their work to provide food, recycled clothing, and furniture to the community.
• 2020 Rolf Williams and 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic (recognized in 2021 due to COVID-19) for their work and commitment to Kittitas County and the community.
• 2022 Kittitas County Health Network (KCHN) Care Coordination Program for their work to connect vulnerable people with health and other social services.
• 2023 Kittitas County Fire Protection District #6 for the agency’s work with vulnerable people in our community and their goal of understanding people wholistically and addressing all their needs.
• 2024 Community Health of Central Washington for their collaborative approach with other service providers to ensure a patient receives holistic care.

 
 
The mission of BOHAC is to provide advisory feedback and formal recommendations to both the Board of Health and the Kittitas County Public Health Department, related to policy, funding, initiatives, and emergent needs, in support of the goals and mission of the Kittitas County Public Health Department.  If you are interested in donating to the Annual Kittitas County Public Health Champion Award fund, please contact Heather Burfeind, BOHAC Treasurer, at heatherswimburfeing@gmail.com
 
 
For more information regarding BOHAC or the Public Health Champion Award, please contact the Kittitas County Public Health Department at (509) 962-7515.
 
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• 2025 Press release announcing nominations for PH Champion.pdf

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515