The late Howard “Mac” McKenna was a businessman and philanthropist who served on the advisory board of the Glendale Corps of the Salvation Army for over 40 years.
To his friends, family and colleagues, he was an inspiration.
To honor his memory and contributions to the community, Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems (BHHS) Legacy Foundation donated $25,000 to the organization.
“Mac and I were friends for 45 years, and what he did in the community is just phenomenal,” said Gerald Wissink, CEO for BHHS Legacy Foundation. “(The Glendale Corps) has made a huge difference in the lives of many families, so we hope that this $25,000 will go a long way to help you to continue.”
Wissink also received an award of his own from surprise guests Joshua and Jedidiah Lyons from U.S. Congressman Abraham Hamadeh’s office.
“Mr. McKenna has made a lasting impression on the health and well-being of countless individuals and communities,” Hamadeh said in a statement. “I first learned about the BHHS Legacy Foundation through Mr. Wissink while we were both participating in the Veterans’ Community Project groundbreaking for transitional housing for homeless or at-risk veterans in Glendale.
“Individuals like Mr. Wissink and the late Mr. McKenna (are) remarkable men, whose generosity of spirit is inspiring.”
Salvation Army Glendale hosted the event on July 24. Along with the donation to the organization, the Legacy Foundation also presented the corps with a plaque for McKenna, thanking him for his service.
Salvation Army Major David Oh said he is grateful for the donation from BHHS, and that the money will be used primarily to help feed the charity’s benefactors. He said that the Legacy Foundation has been supportive of the Glendale Corps for years, and donates hundreds of backpacks and school supplies to the Salvation Army’s Back to School drive.
“For the last several years, they have provided 500 backpacks,” Oh said. “When I was in other areas, we always had to go to Walmart to buy those and spend over $10,000 on backpacks alone. They provide all these donations so we don’t really have to spend anything.”
Over the years, BHHS Legacy has donated over $140,000 to the organization. Oh said the corps received over 300 applications to receive a backpack at their Back to School event, hosted on July 25.
Many of the late philanthropist’s family and friends were present for the ceremony, including Kelly Popovich, McKenna’s daughter, leaders from the Salvation Army and board members of the Legacy Foundation.
“I just want it to be remembered that he would always share with us that Gerry was his brother,” she said. “All of the members of the BHHS Legacy Foundation were his brothers and sisters in Christ and in serving others, and they made it possible to share his love and give back to the community.”
Popovich is the vice chair of the Salvation Army Glendale Corps’ Advisory Board.
The events began with a prayer led by Oh, who thanked God for McKenna, and called him a “pillar of the community.” A video commemorating McKenna’s life followed, with speeches from Wissink, Popovich and McKenna’s other peers and loved ones.
Once the video concluded, Wissink delivered a speech about McKenna, and presented Major Oh and his wife Ellen with the donation check.
Daniel Oehler, BHHS Legacy Foundation chairman of the board of directors, spoke afterward, and said he will remember McKenna fondly. Oehler told a story about McKenna going out of his way to return a lost credit card slip to its rightful owner.
“I can tell you some stories about what I think was really our last day together in Park City with Donna and Maxine,” he said. “It seemed to me that’s the kind of thing that Mac McKenna was always building, always orchestrating. He was always a go-to guy — always there, always helpful, always had great ideas. Thank you for sharing your dad and your husband with the foundation. He made it a better place. He made the world a better place, and he will not be forgotten.
“Over the 27 or 28 years that I was exposed to him, I think I would have to say I truly loved every minute of it.”
McKenna died on Jan. 11. He had worked with the Salvation Army for 55 years, bringing food and other resources to Glendale’s underserved communities. He was the first chairman of the Glendale chapter in 1970. One of the projects he completed in his time was a $500,000 renovation project to fix infrastructural issues with the operations building.
Wissink said he considers that project to be reflective of the organization’s rich history, and McKenna’s dedication and intimate involvement.
“(The building) has an incredible history, and Mac has been a part of that all this time,” Wissink said. “We just can’t say enough good things about what you all are doing in the community to combat food insecurity, and all the other things you do so effectively.
“Know that Mac is smiling to this day.”