2.47 BILLION DOLLARS. An almost unthinkable amount of money, for most of us. Yet that’s how much GivingTuesday raised in 2020 alone. GivingTuesday is now a global event, created in 2012 when two New York organizations decided to set aside a day around Thanksgiving where people could celebrate the American tradition of philanthropy and giving. Simply put, it’s a generosity movement. The impact, however, is anything but modest. What does this have to do with you and me? Lots. GivingTuesday may be a global event, but it impacts you directly thanks to the radical generosity of donors at our very own Frederick Health.
We wanted to find out more, so we sat down with Robin Rose, Chief Development Officer, for a fascinating Q&A.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT FREDERICK HEALTH VEERS AWAY FROM THE TYPICAL FUNDRAISING FASHION. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?
Frederick Health has a unique way of fundraising. We don’t do fundraising events; rather, we encourage membership in giving clubs. We utilize a group of about 60 volunteers from all different walks of life in the community who serve as advocates and volunteer fundraisers. They help grow membership in our giving clubs. Every dollar goes directly
to the hospital because there is no “cover cost” that you’d see in a typical fundraising event. We can fundraise so much more with a greater return.
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR DONORS BEING CALLED “FAMILY”?
The whole point of the way we raise money is to bring donors into our family! You see, people who donate believe in the mission. Not only do they know the cause and its importance, they are personally invested. They give because they have received care and want to give back. We are so thankful for this family. Annually, we bring all members of
giving clubs together to show appreciation and keep them up to date. They are the first to know what’s happening at Frederick Health. Even more importantly, we really work hard to have personal relationships with donors. I honestly get several phone calls a week, from members who need and want to connect personally to the hospital. This has been especially true during the pandemic.
HOW IS OUR FREDERICK COMMUNITY DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY DONORS?
Every person who utilizes the hospital—whether it’s the NICU, cardiac program, or cancer institute—are all beneficiaries of the giving. We are a nonprofit organization so charitable support enables us to do this. In other words, if we couldn’t rely on the community to support us, it wouldn’t be possible. The importance of a community hospital is paramount. The economic health of the community depends on the health and well-being of its citizens. That’s the mission of Frederick Health—to positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community.
WHAT MAKES FREDERICK HEALTH STAND OUT FROM OTHER HOSPITALS?
We are an independent nonprofit community with a local board of directors—people who live and work here. Our board makes decisions with the hospital leadership team. You see, they’re making decisions with and for people
they work with, go to church with, and see around town. If we were a much bigger organization, those decisions would look different.
WORD IS, FREDERICK HEALTH HAS WON SOME MAJOR AWARDS. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?
Even as a nonprofit, we are still competitive on a national level. We were named one of Health Grade’s “Best 100” and we’ve won five awards from The American Heart/Stroke Association related to metrics. We’re a Magnet hospital, which signifies very high standards in nursing care.
WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED! WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?
We invite you to join our donor family on GivingTuesday, which is November 30! Using the link to our donation page, you can choose between options, based on your heartfelt preference. Learn about giving clubs and join one, if you wish! Read about our capital campaign—a 45 million dollar project focused on critical care. Share your story and more with our Grateful Patient Program. You may even find details regarding our donor report. Lastly, one-time donations are certainly possible, and welcome, as well.
Donation link: FrederickHealth.org/Donate
