News / 2015 / January / Great River Health Systems Employees Donate $68,000 in 2014
Great River Health Systems Employees Donate $68,000 in 2014
Great River Health System employees donated more than $68,000 to the community in 2014 though workplace contributions. The largest portion – about $43,000 – was given to Burlington/West Burlington Area United Way through payroll deduction. Other fundraisers were a food drive, casual days, and a hat and mitten drive.
"Great River Health System and our employees take great pride in making a difference in the communities we serve," said Mark Richardson, president and CEO. "Our employees' generosity over the years has helped thousands of people in southeast Iowa and west-central Illinois."
Employees contributed about $13,250 to the food drive last fall through a golf tournament, raffle ticket sales, an online auction and donations. The health system donated an additional $2,500. The money, in the form of grocery vouchers, was donated to Kayla's Cupboard, the Salvation Army, Southeast Iowa Community Action and the YMCA Domestic Violence Shelter in Burlington; Henderson County, Illinois, Food Cellar; and the Wapello, Iowa, Food Pantry.
On designated Fridays, employees may wear jeans to work in exchange for $2 casual day stickers. The $11,100 raised in 2014 was donated to a variety of organizations including the Burlington Homeless Shelter, Des Moines County Special Needs Foundation, Junior Achievement, Medication Assistance Program and Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Nearly $1,000 was donated during two casual days for the hat and mitten drive. It was given this month to the Burlington Community School District and West Burlington Independent School District. The money will be used to fulfill student needs through school nurses or social workers. Great River Health Systems employees also gave hundreds of hats, mittens and other winter gear to the schools.
Great River Health System was recognized as one of the best places to work in Iowa in 2013 and 2014, according to a survey sponsored by the Des Moines Register. It placed in the top 10 large employers. Recognition was based on employees' responses to a survey about their workplaces. The survey focused on six aspects of the workplace environment including company values and work atmosphere.