HDH employees give back through Foundation contributions

As Highland District Hospital commemorates its 100th anniversary this year, the HDH Foundation is celebrating the generosity of its employees, nearly half of whom are playing a large role in the hospital's century of charitable giving.

Four years after the Foundation's inception in 2001, HDH Foundation Director Cathy Jones said an employee approached the hospital to suggest an employee giving fund.

The employee giving fund is primarily run through a payroll deduction, with employees committing to donate a set amount of money, which they choose. Employees are able to pledge as little as $1 per pay period ($26 per year) to the Foundation or can make a one-time gift, and payroll deductions can begin at any point throughout the year.

"Since 2005, our employees have donated about $40,000 to be used for purchasing equipment," Jones said.

As of 2014, Jones said, 42 percent of the hospital's employees participate in the employee giving fund.

The employee giving fund is headed by a committee that determines fundraising goals for the year, based on "overall need and suggestions," Jones said, so "the employees do have a say in what their money is used for."

According to Jones, the committee is made up of "representatives from each segment of the hospital."

"As people we retire, we continue to look at the committee and make sure everyone is represented," Jones said.

The employees' 2014 goal is to assist with purchasing a new 4-D ultrasound unit, and the employees have also decided to set a special monetary goal.

"In honor of it being 2014, the employees want to give $14,000 to go toward the purchase of the 4-D ultrasound unit," Jones said.

The Foundation's plans for the year also include the purchase of two other new pieces of equipment, a new respirator and a GlideScope, which will assist with intubation in the emergency room, Jones said. The Foundation also includes fundraising goals for the hospital's annual Health Fair in their plans each year.

Since the employee giving fund began, the hospital's employees have contributed to the purchase of toys for children; televisions for the inpatient unit; wheelchairs; and taxi vouchers. Jones said the employees have also "made significant contributions in the last two years for the digital mammography unit" that was the focus of the Foundation's recent fundraising campaign.

Jones said that the hospital has been run by donations since it was founded in 1914. According to a press release by the Hospital, "in 1911, a group of local physicians formed a stock company for the purpose of establishing a hospital in Hillsboro. The stocks were purchased by community-minded area residents."

"Charitable giving started at the very beginning," Jones said.

The hospital has also been the recipient of "charitable giving throughout the years by grateful patients and their families," the press release said.

Jones said that is important for the community to realize how much the hospital's employees care about the hospital.

"Not only are our employees here for the wonderful care they provide, but they care enough to give back to the hospital," Jones said.

For more information regarding the Foundation or to make a donation, contact Jones at (937) 393-6360.