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TO CONGRATULATE VINCE FORD, PRISMA HEALTH SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH OFFICER, AND TO WISH HIM MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the South Carolina Senate honors those individuals who give tirelessly of themselves to the welfare of this great state's citizenry. Vince Ford, retiring Prisma Health Senior Vice President, Community Health Services, stands among their number as an outstanding public benefactor, one much admired in his role as both medical administrator and educator; and
Whereas, Vince Ford has devoted his life to creating opportunities that make a difference in the lives of his fellow men and in the life of his community. His visionary leadership, heartfelt commitment, and personal compassion have yielded significant results; and
Whereas, in 1997, the state's largest health system, Palmetto Health, now Prisma Health, invited Mr. Ford to establish and lead a groundbreaking new initiative to serve the unmet health needs of the community's uninsured and medically underserved. Starting from ground zero, he engaged hospital leaders and the community in establishing the Office of Community Health Services, with the goal of improving community health through preventive, early interventional, and educational services. For almost a quarter century under Mr. Ford's guidance, the Office of Community Health has offered national-award-winning innovative programs that annually deliver low- to no-cost cancer, dental, maternal, child, teen, and vision health services to thousands of people in the Midlands of South Carolina. In recognition, Palmetto Health was awarded the 2014 American Hospital Association's Foster G. McGaw Award, the highest national honor for community health; and
Whereas, prior to joining Palmetto Health, Mr. Ford served as executive director of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands and the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation. He also has coordinated and managed alcohol and drug abuse programs for the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. As a senior health care leader and community activist, he continues to teach and lead efforts that address the problem of teen drug and alcohol use, reaching out to parents, teens, teachers, and others; and
Whereas, education forever will remain Mr. Ford's personal passion. He long served on the Richland School District One School Board in various positions, including board chair. He was named Outstanding School Board Member for the Sixth Congressional District and All-State School Board Member by the South Carolina School Boards Association. He also served on the board of his alma mater, Benedict College, and on the University of South Carolina African American Community Advisory Board. In addition, Mr. Ford is a member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and has served these organizations in multiple leadership roles; and
Whereas, Vince Ford has received numerous accolades for his distinguished service. Most recently, the Council of Urban Education honored him with its Benjamin E. Mays Lifetime Achievement Award (2017). Most notably, he has been added to the Columbia Housing Authority's Wall of Fame; and
Whereas, having set the bar of achievement extraordinarily high in his profession, Vince Ford, upon his December 2021 retirement, will be remembered with affection and gratitude for years to come by colleagues and the many people he has served. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Vince Ford, Prisma Health Senior Vice President, Community Health Services, upon the occasion of his retirement, commend him for nearly a quarter century of distinguished service as a community health officer, and wish him much continued success and fulfillment in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Vince Ford.
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