It was a SUPER finish for the SUPERHERO-themed 2018 Hawaii Pacific Health Employee Giving Campaign. Hawaii Pacific Health employees showed their giving power by donating their own money to help patients and patient families by raising a record $1,070,115 for the 2018 Employee Giving Campaign. This is the second straight year that Hawaii Pacific Health has surpassed the $1 million mark.
The total raised was collected over a one-month period through personal gifts and pledges by more than 4,000 staff members. Spirited team leaders helped build up the excitement by wearing capes and masks at staff meetings and events.
“The generosity of our employees goes hand in hand with how caring they are of our patients and their families, and we see that commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of others every day at our medical centers,” said Hawaii Pacific Health Executive Vice President of Human Resources and General Services Gail Lerch. “Our employees understand that as a not-for-profit health care system, Hawaii Pacific Health relies on the support of donors to fund numerous services and programs at our facilities. We are proud to have employees at every level of our organization who believe so deeply in our mission to create a healthier Hawaii.”
This was Hawaii Pacific Health’s 17th Employee Giving Campaign and the most successful in the organization’s history. During the month of September, employees were invited to make a gift in support of the philanthropic mission of each medical center. Employees from every department volunteered to be team leaders and helped to inspire peers to participate. There also were a number of creative fundraising events at each facility, ranging from bake sales and karaoke contests to cupcake decorating contests, which raised more than $73,000 for the campaign.
“The results of the Hawaii Pacific Health Employee Giving Campaign are an amazing reflection of each employee’s personal choice to make a difference for the communities we serve,” said Hawaii Pacific Health Senior Vice President of Philanthropy Dawn M. Dunbar. “The spirit of giving for this campaign is genuine and meaningful with each donation. Many of our staff members have their own experience at one of our facilities or they are inspired by being a part of lifesaving care our medical centers’ provide. The success of the Employee Giving Campaign really is about our employees’ ongoing desire to help.”
This year, the majority of the campaign money will benefit the following programs and services at Hawaii Pacific Health’s four medical centers that would not be possible without the generous philanthropic support of employees and the community:
- Kapiolani Medical Center’s Child Life and Chaplaincy programs help kids and families cope with their hospitalization. Gifts will support the healing and comfort these programs bring to patients by providing visits from child life specialists, the educational liaison, integrated services and 24/7 access to chaplain services.
- Pali Momi Medical Center’s Emergency and Trauma Fund will provide equipment, education and training that are critical to supporting Central and West Oahu’s only Level III Trauma Center. Gifts will help community families and neighbors during an emergency when they need support.
- Straub Medical Center’s patient emergency assistance Kokua Fund supports out-of-pocket costs that can be devastating when a medical crisis arises. Gifts will help fund medication, medical equipment, transportation and more for patients in need.
- Wilcox Medical Center’s telemedicine program offers more specialty services and physicians for Kauai allowing patients to receive care without traveling to Oahu. Telemedicine is being used in neurology,nephrology and pediatric post-op care. Gifts will help the program expand and grow for inpatient and outpatient services.
For more information about Hawaii Pacific Health’s philanthropic mission and how the community’s support helps patients and their families, visit Giving.HawaiiPacificHealth.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: Hawaii Pacific Health employees gather with President & CEO Ray Vara (center behind check) to celebrate the results of the 2018 Hawaii Pacific Health Employee Giving Campaign, which raised more than $1 million for the second year in a row.