Sharon Scott

As inspiring as the group of women who first gave their time to support St. Joseph’s Hospital in the 1930s, Partners President Sharon Scott is a leader who draws strength from volunteers, her role models and the experiences and challenges she encounters.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be president. I am here because of the wonderful people at the hospital,” she says.

From hospital fundraisers to the gift shop, all Partners activities revolve around the 156 volunteers who give their time and talents. Sharon is grateful she can give so much time to Partners.

“It’s a grassroots organization,” she says. “I thought I could do it for a couple of years. But I realized I had a love and passion for this. Through Partners, I have come in contact with people who have inspired a leadership quality I never knew I had.”

Sharon’s leadership and commitment have deep and early roots.

“My parents were very involved in the American Legion,” she says. ”I can remember as an 8-year-old selecting a corner where I could sell poppies.”

In the years that followed, Sharon tutored other children as a teen, and was Girl Scout Cookie Chair when her daughter was younger. Her real “eye opening” volunteer experience was as an advocate for rape victims.

“If someone walked in and asked what can be gleaned from volunteering, I would tell them you broaden your scope of what the world really needs. Even the most cantankerous person can be jilted with just a smile,” she says. “It’s not just words, it’s action.”

Thanks to Sharon’s actions, Partners members have donated funds and time to support the Kathy Hospice, The Alyce and Elmore Kraemer Cancer Care Center, Breast Care Program and the Emergency Care Center. Last year, the 156 members of Partners donated 13,884 hours of service. Sharon has also guided her organization through historic changes as the hospital moved to a new campus and affiliated with another health care organization. Sharon embraced these challenges head-on and kept her core philosophy close at heart.

“I always tell my volunteers ‘It’s okay to have negatives. You can bring them to me. But for every negative you need to have three positives,’” she says.