Stories
Heart from the
SPONSORED REPORT
Roger and Raisa Webb Three Decades of Giving
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Roger Webb with his wife, Raisa.
“I always tell people, ‘If you don’t realize what a great job the Children’s Hospital does, go ask somebody who’s used it.’ ” – ROGER WEBB
oger Webb has been sharing his time and resources with Sacred Heart for more than 30 years. It all started with the Children’s Miracle Network telethon, which he supported from the time he came to Pensacola in 1985. “I learned about the hospital, and I didn’t need it personally, but I saw the value,” says Roger, President of Wendco Corporation. “Every community needs good healthcare, education and the inspiration to continue to grow.” Growing up in Ohio, Roger’s father was a KFC franchisee. Dave Thomas — who would go on to open Wendy’s restaurants — was his first employer. After graduating from Ohio State University, Roger worked as an accounts payable clerk for Wendy’s. He soon transitioned to management, learning from experienced business people as he helped them open their restaurants. In 1985, Roger bought the family interest out of Pensacola and moved here to open his own. “When you live in the Midwest, you do as much as you can there so you can get to Florida,” he jokes. “This is a good town to do business in … a close community of friendly people.” Roger focused on his business and made it his business to give back. In time, he met the love of his life. He now shares 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Sasha, with his bride, Raisa. “Having a young daughter, she’s the most important thing to both of us. She’s our life,” Roger says. Originally from Russia, Raisa has made Pensacola her home for 17 years. She earned her second graduate degree from UWF before starting a career as a financial advisor. Later, Raisa began working with Roger at Wendco, giving her the flexibility to be present for Sasha. After supporting the hospital for so many years, the Webbs experienced its special care firsthand when their daughter was born at The Studer Family Children’s Hospital in 2014. “I always tell people, ‘If you don’t realize what a great job the Children’s Hospital does, go ask somebody who’s used it,’ ” Roger says. Today, The Studer Family Children’s Hospital is expanding to become “a new hospital for a new generation” — providing all private rooms and the best in medical technology. With Wendy’s as a presenting sponsor, the Cordova Mall Ball has helped move the project forward. Roger says he and his wife choose to support the event because it fits into everything they feel is important to a community. Each year following the Mall Ball, sponsors and committee members come together to celebrate the funds raised for the hospital and the impact on the children who receive care here. At one such luncheon, Raisa recalls being shown a tiny oxygen mask, used to care for the hospital’s tiniest patients. “When you see something like that, you can’t help but feel it in your heart,” she says. “It’s very rewarding to see how we are helping save lives.”
December 2017–January 2018 111 FOUNDATION.SACRED-HEART.ORG | SAC R ED H E ART FO U N DAT IO N 7
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