For only the third time in its 43-year history, the Blessing Foundation will be under new leadership as of January 1, 2026.
Ann Awerkamp Dickson has served as the Foundation’s Administrative Director for 22 years. She retires on December 31, 2025, after having served Blessing Health System for a total of 43 years. Upon her retirement, Jayme Connell becomes Administrative Director of the Blessing Foundation.
“As I prepare to leave, what matters most to me are the people who will continue to carry the mission forward,” Awerkamp Dickson said. “I am proud of the Foundation team that is in place. The true test of leadership is how well the department performs after you are gone. I know good things will continue to happen.”
Connell joined Blessing in 2019 and has served in the Employee Wellbeing and Organizational Development departments. She is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri. Connell and her husband, Bill, have two adult children and live in Liberty.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected to lead the Blessing Foundation,” Connell said. “The Foundation plays a vital role in advancing our Mission of improving the health of our communities. When donors choose to support Blessing, they are investing in the well-being of our region—demonstrating the exceptional stewardship and generosity that define the Tri-State area.
I express my gratitude to the leaders who have guided the Foundation to where it is today. Their vision, dedication, and commitment have laid a strong foundation for continued impact, and I am humbled to follow them,” she concluded.
The Foundation raises, manages, and disburses charitable contributions on behalf of Blessing Health System. With those contributions the Foundation:
• Supports the unmet needs of patients when no other support is available,
• Provides grants to health system departments and services to enhance patient care and for staff continuing education,
• Manages 53 endowed scholarships and related funds for Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and
• Is a key participant in capital fundraising activities for special projects, most recently for construction of the Teresa Adams House, the Moorman Pavilion patient care addition, and the Blessing Cancer Center.
The Blessing Foundation is overseen by an 11-member volunteer community board of trustees. Patrick Gerveler, the health system’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, serves as the President of the Blessing Foundation.
For more information on the Blessing Foundation, go to www.blessingfoundationconnects.com
