NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Great Plains Health will host a community celebration Thursday, September 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. on the East Lawn of the hospital at 601 W. Leota St. in North Platte to mark its 50th anniversary of serving the region.
The event will feature live music by Rascal Martinez, face painting, food trucks on site, giveaways and free bike helmets for children. Community members of all ages are invited to join the celebration. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets.
“For 50 years, this community has been the heart of everything we do,” said Ivan Mitchell, chief executive officer of Great Plains Health. “We’ve had the privilege of caring for multiple generations of families, and our independence ensures that we can continue shaping our future based on the needs and values of the people we serve. This celebration is not only about honoring the trust and support our community has shown us—it’s about safeguarding that trust for generations to come.”
Great Plains Health was born from the 1975 merger of two local institutions – Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. Opening as Great Plains Medical Center on August 9, 1975, the organization later added “Regional” to its name before becoming the Great Plains Health that serves North Platte and the broader region today.
“Our 50th anniversary is really about celebrating the relationships we’ve built with our
community over the years,” said Megan McGown, chief development officer of Great Plains Health.
“We’ve grown significantly from our early days – today our team of over 1,200 employees provides care to families across more than 67,000 square miles throughout Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota. This event is our way of saying thank you to everyone who has trusted us with their health care needs and supported our growth for half a century.”
The celebration offers an opportunity for the community to come together and reflect on five decades of shared health care experiences while enjoying an evening of entertainment, activities and giveaways.
The event is free to attend and open to the public. For more information about Great Plains Health’s 50th anniversary celebration visit www.gphealth.org/about-us/50thanniversary.
