West Plains, Mo. – West Plains Bank and Trust Company recently committed to a $250,000 gift to the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Mobile Mammography Campaign. According to Ozarks Healthcare Vice President of Development Josh Reeves, the gift is a significant step toward increasing the availability of reliable breast cancer screening services to women throughout rural South-Central Missouri, who might not otherwise have access.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/Chief Executive Officer David M. Gohn said supporting the campaign was a natural choice. “More than 70% of West Plains Bank and Trust Company employees are women and all of us have wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, who may have been or could be impacted by breast cancer,” he said. “We believe in supporting causes that impact us all and understand that a healthy community is a strong community.”
Gohn said by making important healthcare screenings such as mammography more accessible to residents throughout the area, early detection and more successful outcomes become possible. “This led us to invest in the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation Mobile Mammography Campaign, which will put the latest technology on the road, where more people can be served.”
While many women put off getting a mammogram due to inconvenience, research shows annual mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. Finding breast cancer early with mammogram screenings can reduce risk of death from the disease by 25 to 30 percent or more.
“We cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for the generosity of West Plains Bank and Trust Company shown to our Foundation’s mobile mammography fundraising campaign,” Tom Keller, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO said. “Throughout the entirety of the campaign, the staff of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have also helped us raise breast cancer awareness across the community with multiple events and projects. We are thankful for their partnership and enthusiasm for mammography and its importance.”
“West Plains Bank and Trust Company has contributed not only to improving the health of our patients, but also to generations through our region and beyond,” Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “Through research, we have been able to conclude that women are more likely to put off screenings due to busy schedules and transportation issues. Thanks to the help of community partners like West Plains Bank and Trust Company, we will be able to increase the accessibility and convenience of mammograms.”
The Ozarks Healthcare Foundation welcomes pledges and donations from individuals, businesses, and other organizations as the campaign is drawing to a close and donations are still needed to fully fund the project. To donate, call the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation at 417-853-5200 or contact Reeves directly at j.reeves@ozhcare.com. Individual donations can be collected online at https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/support-us/foundation/mobile-mammography-unit-campaign/.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883, making it the oldest continually operating business in the area. With more than 138 years of service to the local region, total assets of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have grown to more than $615 million with seven locations and a loan production office.