Freeman to Plan City of Joplin's Largest Holiday Event

For the third year in a row, Freeman Health System will manage the Joplin Christmas Parade. This includes countless man-hours to organize and orchestrate the event.

In a news conference held Tuesday, October 11, at Freeman Hospital West, Mike Seibert, City of Joplin Mayor, presented a 2016 Joplin Christmas Parade permit to Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to give the gift of service to the community that has supported Freeman for more than 90 years,” said Baker. “We’re honored to take on the challenge and carry on this important holiday tradition.”

The theme of this year’s parade was also announced. “A Hollywood Christmas” encourages entrants to revisit favorite holiday movies and decorate accordingly.

Funds generated by the 2016 Joplin Christmas Parade will go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®, which provides assistance to children from birth to 21 years of age in a 14-county area in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. All money raised stays local, helping children with medical needs and their families. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals helps furnish and maintain Freeman Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, provides funding for local community organizations pediatric needs and provides pediatric emergency equipment for area agencies.

Freeman staff members have already started planning the parade. The parade will take place at 6:00 pm Tuesday, December 6. For more information about placing an entry in the 2016 Joplin Christmas Parade call 417.347.4622 or email joplinchristmasparade@freemanhealth.com.

Photo: Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer, receives 2016 Joplin Christmas Parade permit from Mike Seibert, City of Joplin Mayor.

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. For 2017, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman one of the top Hospitals in Southwest Missouri more than four years in a row. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo.