We have the bittersweet opportunity to thank, honor and say goodbye to an incredible person and coworker this month. Our Health Navigator, Kathy Schultz has officially retired. Though we will miss working with such a dedicated and fun-loving individual, we are thankful for Kathy’s 4+ years of service to WRFV and the refugee clients we serve and we couldn't’t be happier for what lies ahead. Kathy will take this time to rest and rejuvenate, but also to spend more time with her family. As an office, we are praying for Kathy and her family as they continue on the path the Lord has laid before them. We wanted to take the time to recognize her here. Each staff has contributed below:
Although I have not known Kathy long since I just began working at World Relief last month, I could quickly see how large her impact has been on our co-workers, clients, and World Relief Fox Valley as a whole. She has made Word Relief a better place by being a part of this team! I admire how thorough and professional Kathy is, and her willingness to always help others around her is greatly appreciated (especially myself as I have learned my way around during this past month- thank you!!). Kathy is always patient, kind, and enjoyable to talk with! Our office is going to miss having her around every day. Kathy, I wish you all the best on your next journey and hope to see you at World Relief in the future! - Anastassia
Kathy is the type of human being that never stops impacting those around her (whether it be at work, at church, at home, in the community, etc.) She is devoted and passionate, always looking for solutions. I am always impressed by her knowledge and the development of her programs. While Kathy is thorough in her instructions and training, she has always gone beyond just explanation – she continuously seeks out ways to take action and get things done. Her commitment to God’s teachings and calling are admirable and because of this, I have seen Kathy leave a lasting impact on the clients we have served together. I feel honored to have called her a coworker, and a friend and blessed to have served alongside her. The office won’t be the same without Kathy’s hard work, hilarious and detailed story-telling abilities, and ham sliders! Kathy – I’m Praying that your retirement is the perfect balance of rest and adventure. –Kelsey
I appreciate the fact of Kathy’s breadth of talent and determination. I’ve seen her talk medical and pharmacy dialogue with doctors and health care providers and speak love and compassion in the most tender ways to a client. She’s a great hostess and knows how to throw a wonderful staff party and is not afraid to break out the toolbox and assemble a bed or table in preparation for a refugee’s arrival. She’s driven countless miles, spent hours on hold on the telephone, written thousands of emails and devoted her heart, mind and soul to helping our refugee clients become stable and whole. -You will be missed but never forgotten and will always be dearly loved by all of us! -Tami
I've had the privilege of working with Kathy for over four years and while Kathy is easily the number one or two makers of food in our office (with the world's best ham sliders!), she brought so much to our office every day that will leave a major void. Kathy was dedicated, persistent, and always worked incredibly hard to meet the needs of our clients. She had the absolute perfect persona in dealing with the difficulties and challenges that come along with the healthcare field, while also being super loving and full of grace towards our clients. I will miss seeing Kathy in the office every day (despite her lack of appreciation for my amazing jokes!) but I hope she knows how much she did to serve and love our clients and our team! Thanks for everything Kathy!" –Phil
Kathy has been a great asset to World Relief. Her remarkable ability to bring solutions to a myriad of complex situations has been invaluable. Kathy's capacity is unusually large, as is evidenced by the fact that her responsibilities will now be shared by a team rather than one individual. Her love for the vulnerable, especially refugees, is contagious and her presence in the office will be missed tremendously. Kathy- I know wherever and whomever you serve in the future will be truly blessed by your great skills and love for others. – David
Working with the refugee clients is an often times difficult job but Kathy nailed it day in and day out. She continually exemplified the heart of Jesus in the way that she cared for our clients in connecting them the medical services they needed. Kathy continually went the extra mile. I appreciated the consistent positive attitude and professionalism that she modeled and I attempted to glean as much from her as possible during the time we worked together. Kathy is also a natural and gifted storyteller and I enjoyed listening to the stories of family. Kathy, Thank you for being part of the World Relief family! J I’m super happy for you and Randy and I hope that you’ll be able to enjoy your precious family time. -Travis
Kathy has been an invaluable member of the WRFV team over the years. There was never a doubt that Kathy cared deeply for the clients she worked with which typically meant working over hours and marathon meetings to make sure things were done well. We will miss Kathy’s dedication, knowledge of the medical field, and funny stories at lunch. We’ll miss you, Kathy! And know that you’ll always be a part of the WRFV family! - James
Being Kathy’s intern and then colleague, I've always respected her balance while organizing chaos. It's her ability to truly step outside of a challenging situation and remind me to always reflect on something entertaining or fulfilling about whatever it is I may be facing day to day--whether it be at work or in my personal life. The balance of finding positives to outweigh the negatives is a game-changing mindset. Kathy - Thank you for always finding the sunshine on a cloudy day! –Ashley
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
Kathy Schultz has embodied this verse throughout her time at World Relief. She has loved (radically) our clients, volunteers and staff. Each medical appointment, hospital visit or spur of the moment emergency has been organized with such attention. Her instructions are impeccable – that is if you finish her 3 page emails that sometimes resemble a graduate student’s thesis. Rest be assured, if Kathy puts her mind to it she could accomplish anything. Insurance companies met their match when even the longest of hold times would not dissuade her. Kathy, we all love you! Thank you for your many years of service in His name! May you enjoy your “retirement” and please answer our panicked calls when attempting to navigate the health system in your absence. – Katie
I really appreciate working with Kathy. I am really thankful for all of her help in getting things done when assisting our clients. Her patience and empathy let her do a great job at the World Relief. She has always been right there, helping out wherever and whenever needed since I started working with her. Kathy was as a mother or a sister to everyone. Her generosity will remain unforgettable in my memory. She will be missed. I wish you all the best during your retirement time. – Joseph
It has been a blessing to work with Kathy over these past few years. She is the kind of person that brings out the best in others. I am thankful to her for everything she has done. We will miss Kathy’s wisdom and experience, but most of all, we will miss the encouragement she has been to us. Kathy, we wishing you the happiest of retirements and we are wishing you a life full of success and happiness! - Sabah
Happy Retirement Kathy! Thank you for your dedication first as a volunteer, and then as a staff member. You have left a legacy of determination, organization and love behind. We are truly blessed to have spent time serving God's people alongside you.
Love, your World Relief Fox Valley Family