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Gift to OSF Galesburg to Address Children's Health Issues

Tri States Public Radio | By T.J. Carson
Published August 18, 2016 at 12:59 PM CDT
Mark Kleine says the $1.5 million dollar gift had been in the works for around a year and a half, and aimed to help OSF's philantrophic initiatives.
T.J. Carson
Mark Kleine says the $1.5 million dollar gift had been in the works for around a year and a half, and aimed to help OSF's philantrophic initiatives.

Developers Mark and Jeannette Kleine gave $1.5 million to OSF St. Mary's in Galesburg to establish the Kleine Pediatric Wellness Center. The center will be housed inside the OSF Galesburg Clinic. 

The radio story.

MarkKleinesaid one reason he wanted to establish the center is because it can be difficult at times to keep children healthy.

"Kids don’t get meals, kids don’t eat the right foods, kids have challenges at home and challenges at school,"Kleinesaid. "We want to do something for the community so our kids grow up and be productive citizens in the community."

Kleinesaid the money will be spent on programming and bringing doctors to Galesburg, such as behavioral health specialists. He said money could also be allocated topreventativecare programs that could teach kids healthy eating habits.

Kleinesaid he would also like to develop partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA.

"We hope that it's an active center that has involvement with other constituents in the community, and is actively working with kids in the community,"Kleinesaid.

Kleinesaid programming is scheduled to begin early next year.

Copyright 2021 Tri States Public Radio. To see more, visit Tri States Public Radio.

State News
T.J. Carson
T.J. Carson is the Galesburg correspondent for Tri States Public Radio. His duties include reporting on current events in the cities of Galesburg and Monmouth, and Knox County. He returns to TSPR after serving as a student reporter and host in 2006. Before Tri States Public Radio, he was a news reporter for WSPL-AM in Streator, IL. At WSPL, T.J. earned two awards from the Illinois Associated Press; Outstanding Single Story Contribution in 2011, and Contributor of the Month for February 2008. T.J. is a native of Lacon, IL. He is a graduate of Midland High School in Varna, IL, where he participated in baseball and football all four years, as well as the Scholastic Bowl team. He received his bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in the fall of 2006, where he participated in numerous activities for the student-run radio station, as well as public address announcing for the Western Illinois Leatherneck baseball and softball teams. In his spare time, T.J. enjoys baseball, golf, watching animation, and drawing. He has also been a Guest of Honor at fan-created conventions for the television program 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'.
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