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Baylor Irving Employees Set Record in Annual Giving Campaign

When it comes to making gifts to help Irving’s only charitable hospital, Baylor Medical Center at Irving’s employee family gives both regularly and generously.

In a recently completed annual employee giving campaign, a historic 82 percent of Baylor Scott and White Health and affiliated employees who work in Coppell, Irving and Grand Prairie made a contribution to the Irving Healthcare Foundation. This year’s success surpassed last year’s giving goal of 79 percent participation, which also was a record. For the fifth consecutive year, employee giving in Irving, Coppell and Grand Prairie has been the highest in the entire Baylor system in North Texas.

 “It’s important for our friends in the community to know that before we ask them to give to help our hospital, more than 1,000 employees who work here have given as well,” noted IHF President John Drake. “In my view, employees ARE the gift to our hospital. They come and do their jobs with excellence every day. On top of that, they then share part of their hard-earned dollars to help pay for facility improvements, nursing education and medical care for the needy. It really is remarkable.” 

Irving Healthcare Foundation (IHF) coordinates fundraising for Baylor Irving and four other healthcare charities based in Irving. During the month-long campaign, employees could designate their gift of any amount to help Baylor Irving, Baylor Our Children’s House at Irving, Irving Community Clinic, or any of IHF’s many funds including those to help provide cancer treatment, heart care and nursing education.

Employees donated both cash and pledged payroll gifts for the next year. They also had the option to donate vacation hours, which were converted to cash gifts. “People gave whatever they could. We focus only on percentage participation and we emphasize that there is no such this as a ‘small’ gift because every gift is significant. Some folks gave a dollar. Others chose to give more.” Drake added. Combined, the employees’ gifts surpassed $172,000. “The message to our employees is the same one we tell the public when we ask them to give: every gift counts and every gift helps.”

Cherl Phillips, manager of the Education Department at Baylor Irving led the committee of volunteers with the help of last year’s Employee Giving Campaign Chairperson Dorothy Dawes.  “I always knew we had gracious and giving people working here at Baylor Irving, but their generosity amazed me!  I don’t know why any of us were surprised when the staff met the challenge of 82 percent participation.  They took that challenge to heart.  The foundation staff is fantastic and the employee giving leadership committee worked so hard to pick up forms, pass out shirts, and help at the forums.  I’m grateful to have been allowed to work with such a great group of people” stated Phillips.

Founded in 1977, Irving Healthcare Foundation’s mission is to make people healthier by awarding funds raised and by encouraging volunteer service to worthy nonprofit organizations that provide healthcare or medical services in Irving.  More than $36 million has been raised and subsequently granted since IHF’s inception. Baylor Irving, the city’s only nonprofit hospital, is IHF’s primary beneficiary. Other recipients include the Irving Community Clinic, Baylor Our Children’s House at Irving and the Childhood Obesity Task Force of Irving.  More information is available at www.healthyirving.org.

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