Throughout March, the achievements of notable women from all careers and corners of life are highlighted as part of Women’s History Month; however, it doesn’t take recognition and accolades to make positive differences in the lives of others.
As far as her credentials, Brenda J. Geoghegan has worked in the banking industry of the Greater Lansing region for the past 17 years. Yet, there are many more contributions Geoghegan has made to the local community that fall outside of her public-facing bona fides. The vice president and senior relationship manager for Huntington Bank in East Lansing who joined the board of the McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation seven years ago has a lengthy history of giving back.
“I’ve always loved the Lansing area and the people here, and I have donated my time to various nonprofits and women groups,” she said. “The National Association of Career Women was always close to my heart, as their main focus was providing college scholarships to women going back to school to further their career. It was such a noble cause in that we were helping the nontraditional women in the workforce who underwent hardships that took them out of vocational and educational classes that were necessary to make it to the next level of the career. Many scholarships went to women going to nursing school.”
She served for two terms as treasurer of the association as well as stints of vice president and president — even being tapped as the Woman of the Year once for her extensive dedication. Among Geoghegan’s other past charitable initiatives include participating in Women Build events with Habitat for Humanity and taking part in the ATHENA WIN Evening of Empowerment, with 2022 marking her fifth year as co-chair of the celebration.
“I’ve been an avid volunteer for the community, so joining the MGL Foundation has been an incredible honor. When I first joined, the new hospital campus was just a dream,” Geoghegan said.
Her service on the Foundation board has helped steer McLaren Greater Lansing through difficult years and raise the hospital’s profile and reputation to its current world-class status as an elite health care provider across the mid-Michigan region.
“They say when you do something you love it doesn’t feel like work — and that’s what being a part of MGLF is,” Geoghegan said. “The Foundation board and the Foundation staff is this amazing group of people who are bringing their passion and professionalism to the community every day, and it’s hard not to get excited. On a larger scale, the investment McLaren is making in the Lansing community bringing the future of health care into our backyard is amazing and something you read about happening ‘somewhere else.’ But it’s not somewhere else; it’s right here, and we’re a part of it.”
The new state-of-the-art hospital and health care campus may have merely been a dream when she first signed on with the Foundation, but dreams have a way of becoming reality when hard work and commitment are coupled with enthusiasm and resolve.
Geoghegan was involved in making the new hospital a reality through her work on the foundation board, as well as making donations and helping others in the community realize the vision and potential of the health care campus. She even made a generous gift to the foundation to provide dinner to the staff on hospital move in day. Her efforts have made a huge difference for hospital staff as well as our community.
“I’m honored to be a part of this movement and a part of the impact the hospital will have on the economy and the landscape of the Lansing area,” Geoghegan said. “And we can all be a part of it in some way, whether by volunteering at the hospital or participating in one of the many social events throughout the year. Together, we make the community stronger.”
To learn how you can be a part of bringing world class health care to Greater Lansing or to make a donation, visit mclarenloveslansing.org.