Jordan Grady, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, left, presents the 19th annual Community Champion Award to Butler Health Systems on Monday, Oct. 17, at Concordia Cabot in Cabot. Ken DeFurio, president and CEO of Butler Health Systems, accepts the award on behalf of the hospital system. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

JEFFERSON TWP — As COVID-19 ravaged the county in 2020 and 2021, Butler Health System rose to the challenge. This was at a time when employees treated residents for the virus through ever-changing protocol and at their own peril.

On Monday, the Butler Chamber of Commerce demonstrated its appreciation for constant quality care in the county by naming Butler Health System its Community Champion Award winner at a luncheon at Concordia Lutheran Ministries.

Ken DeFurio, president and CEO at the health system, said he was reluctant to accept the award, as the caregivers are the true champions when it comes to their dedication during the coronavirus pandemic.

DeFurio remembered looking out the various windows at Butler Memorial Hospital just before Christmas 2020 as the clergy in Butler had arranged a candlelight vigil of grateful residents who stood side by side around the hospital as a gesture of thanks to all who worked there.

“As the pandemic hit, we entered into a phase of our careers that we could not imagine,” DeFurio said. “It was tough.”

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