Riverwood’s Auxiliary will host its 41st Annual Lights of Love Ceremony on Sunday, November 22. Each year, members select chairpersons whose generosity, compassion, and service to others embody the spirit of Lights of Love.
This year, that honor goes to Steve and Julie Wilson.
Steve’s connection to Riverwood spans a lifetime. Born to Sandy and Roger Wilson at Riverwood, he grew up with a front-row seat to the care that makes a community hospital special. His mother, Sandy, worked as a nurse at Riverwood for 29 years, and some of Steve’s earliest memories were made here.
“It was a different time then,” Steve says. “My mom brought me to work on the nights my dad was on the road, and I’d spend time with staff and even some o
f the long-term patients. I grew up at Riverwood.”
Both of Steve’s parents left a lasting mark on the community. Sandy’s dedication to nursing and Roger’s entrepreneurial leadership shaped the belief that Steve and Julie would embrace as they raised their three children, Reagan, Brynn, and Tanner: make your blessings count and do all the good you can for your neighbors.
Steve joined Riverwood’s Board of Governors in 2008 and has helped guide the organization through years of growth and transformation.
“To see our hospital grow into a state-of-the-art facility is incredible,” Julie says. “The comfort and care Riverwood offers is next level.”
After Steve’s parents passed, the Wilsons established the Roger and Sandy Wilson Scholarship through the Riverwood Foundation, honoring their memory and their philosophy of offering people a hand up, not a handout.
Their commitment extends well beyond Riverwood. Over the years, they’ve supported organizations such as Long Lake Conservation Center, Aitkin schools, Dollars for Scholars, Friends of the Arts, the Aitkin Chamber of Commerce, and their church. Through volunteering, mentoring, and philanthropy, Steve and Julie have invested in Aitkin and the people who call it home.
Their selection as Lights of Love chairpersons recognizes the Wilson family legacy of generosity, hard work, and opening doors for future generations.
Community members may purchase a light for Riverwood’s Christmas tree with a minimum $5 donation in honor or memory of a loved one. Proceeds from Lights of Love support patient care through Auxiliary grants and investments. Donation forms are available online and in Riverwood’s main lobby and cafeteria, and a scroll of honored names will be displayed beside the trees through year-end.
Join Riverwood on November 22 at 1 p.m. in the Aitkin Clinic lobby as we celebrate Steve and Julie Wilson and the lasting impact of Lights of Love.