The program provides four school districts with certified athletic trainers
RICHLAND, WASH. (March 25, 2024) ‒ Gesa, a community-focused credit union, is teaming up with the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation to support high school athletic training programs in honor of National Athletic Training Month this March. Pullman Regional Hospital’s Regional High School Athletic Training program extends its services to the Colton, WA; Garfield-Palouse, WA; Potlatch, ID; and Pullman, WA school districts, providing full-service athletic training care at each school and benefitting more than 750 student athletes.
As part of the partnership, the credit union is donating a total of $150,000 to the Foundation over a three-year period.
“We are grateful to our friends at Gesa for their generous support of our Regional High School Athletic Training Program,” said Linda Infranco, Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation Executive Director. “Together, we are committed to keeping our kids healthy and safe, and this gift demonstrates the impact that business leaders are making to improve premier healthcare in the regions they serve. Thank you, Gesa! We are excited to work alongside you in the months and years ahead.”
“Providing full-service athletic training care to our schools and young athletes is a group effort,” said Matt Forge, Pullman Regional Hospital CEO. “We are so grateful to Gesa for partnering with Pullman Regional, our athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, dentists, optometrists and ENT specialists to keep kids safely playing sports.”
In addition to providing schools with full-time certified athletic trainers, the program also offers student athletes with access to on-call orthopedic surgeons, concussion baseline testing, injury assessment, prevention care, and treatment and rehabilitation services, all at no cost to them or their families. Since its inception in 2019, the hospital’s program has provided students with care valued at $1.39 million.
“We have such strong ties to the greater Pullman community, especially when it comes to supporting athletics and giving back,” said Amber Merrill, Community Relations Manager at Gesa Credit Union. “It is so important for student athletes to have access to qualified health care services so that they can remain healthy and safe while they play sports. We’re grateful that this type of program exists for the community, thanks to our wonderful partners in the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation, and we’re thrilled that our support for the program will help benefit more students in the years to come.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, Gesa will also support several other Pullman Regional Hospital and Foundation events, such as its Annual Gala, 5th Quarter Rally, and Golf Classic and Luncheon, as well as Nurses’ and Hospital Weeks in May. The credit union will also give a matching donation of up to $2,500 to the Foundation to further support the Regional High School Athletic Training Program.
For more information about Gesa Credit Union’s community involvement, visit https://www.gesa.com/gesa-in-the-community/. To learn more about the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation, visit https://www.pullmanregional.org/foundation.
