Reading Hospital Foundation has announced it has received $42,552.75 from Reading Hospital employees during the annual “It Starts With Us” Employee Giving Campaign.
The Campaign is a fundraising effort that encourages Reading Hospital team members to support programs and services that directly impact patients and colleagues.
Many of these initiatives were inspired and developed by Hospital staff. The campaign was held from June 20 through July 8 and received donations from 156 generous employees.
The Reading Hospital Foundation helps fund programs that directly benefit patients, employees, the hospital, and community. Employee donors had the opportunity to designate where their contributions will be used. These areas include:
Area of Greatest Need allocates resources to crucial areas within Reading Hospital for unanticipated expenses.
Community Wellness/Street Medicine Fund supports delivery of primary and urgent care to the unsheltered in Berks County, providing medication, equipment, and medical supplies. It also reduces barriers to care by addressing the challenges some patients face with housing instability, health-related legal issues, transportation, or food insecurity.
Nursing Excellence Fund expands learning opportunities for the Hospital’s nurses. This fund supports those nurses who wish to pursue a bachelor, masters, or doctorate degree, advance to leadership roles, or obtain specialized training in areas such as transplant and geriatric care.
Employee Assistance Fund aids Reading Hospital employees facing immediate, severe, and temporary financial hardships due to an emergency.
Gwen’s Closet provides basic clothing items to Reading Hospital patients who need new or clean clothes to wear when they are discharged.
“Our employees have been through much over the last two and a half years,” said Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO.
“Even after everything they continue to give back to benefit their patients, our community, and their colleagues. I am proud to donate to the “It Starts With Us” campaign and I thank my colleagues for doing the same.”
Katherine Thornton, President of Reading Hospital Foundation, added, “Every day the work of our team members makes a difference in the lives of our patients. In addition to all the healthcare and related services needed by our patients and their families, they also provide a listening ear and caring heart to those at their most vulnerable. They are the reason Reading Hospital has an incredible impact on our community.”
