Patricia Dardis(’75): Philanthropist of the Year

_{Source: Jamestown Sun}

The Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation held its annual Pillars of Giving celebration on Sept. 13 at the University of Jamestown’s Reiland Fine Arts Center. During the celebration, the JRMC Foundation presented the 2015 Philanthropist of the Year Award to Patricia Dardis. The award is bestowed to an individual, couple, organization or business who has demonstrated exemplary civic engagement service and a commitment to local health care.

Dardis has dedicated her career to health care. As a graduate of the University of Jamestown nursing program, she went on to receive her Master of Science for adult health, parent-child nursing and family nurse from South Dakota State University.

Dardis spent 18 years of her career in primary care at Sanford Health. She was also an assistant professor at University of North Dakota for 16 years and most recently provided medication management to a diverse population of acutely and chronically mentally ill individuals at South Central Human Service Center.

In 2008, John Dardis, a lifelong resident of Jamestown, passed away after a battle with colon cancer. As a business owner, active community member, hunter, friend and family man, he was known for his honesty and generous giving of time and kind gestures.

After his passing, John Dardis’ wife, Patricia, and their family were inspired to develop the John Dardis Memorial Hospice Gift Fund as a way for his selfless nature to continue.

This fund has provided a sherpa blanket to every JRMC Hospice patient for comfort and warmth. The fund also supports small gifts of non-medical needs to help families during end-of-life care. This has included a night’s hotel room stay, in-home communion, birthday gifts, books, haircuts and other meaningful gifts.

In her acceptance speech, Dardis said she was “humbled to tears,” when she received the news of her award. She went on to say that the honor was not hers, but should go to her late husband, John.

“This honor is not about me,” Dardis said. “It is about a man with a passion for the people of this geographic region, a man who would do anything he could to be helpful, supportive and giving. He was a selfless soul. This gift fund is John, and reflects his belief that we are here for the sole purpose to help one another.”