Marshfield Clinic employees gave nearly $200,000 during the 2012 Project Shine, the annual employee giving appeal. In the process, 674 generous employee donors shattered the goal of $150,000.
One of the beneficiaries of the 2012 Project Shine was Marshfield Clinic Cancer Care in Stevens Point, according to Ruth Glodowski, an oncology nurse and WINGS survivorship program coordinator there. Glodowski requested and was granted $1,000 to purchase 70 chenille blankets given to patients on their first day of chemotherapy.
"Part of the mission of Marshfield Clinic is to provide high quality health care, and we certainly do that in our oncology centers," Glodowski said. "It is so nice to have a soft touch on a very hard day, the first day of cancer treatment/chemotherapy.
"The response from our patients is always one of gratitude with a smile as they reach for their blanket," Glodowski said.
Four funds were highlighted for Project Shine:
- The Angel Fund, which allows patients to retain the necessities of life they otherwise could not afford because of illness or other unfortunate circumstances.
- The Heart, Lung and Blood Research Fund, which helps support research in cardiology and other heart diseases, pulmonary medicine and blood-borne diseases.
- The Pediatric Needs Fund, which helps provide patient comfort, education and other needs for children seen in the Pediatrics Department.
- Project Shine Grant Fund, which allows employees to invest in the mission of Marshfield Clinic by joining the efforts of departments and centers to improve patient care. The Project Shine Grant Fund provides support for equipment, educational resources and other Clinic initiatives that directly improve the quality of care for patients
New to Project Shine this year was the Hour Club. To join, employees pledge one hour of their pay for each of 24 pay periods.
"I give to Project Shine as a way to give back for the care that was provided to loved ones over the years. This is one way I can say 'thank you' to Marshfield Clinic while helping others," said Holly Stankowski, operations assistant manager in Oncology, Marshfield Center.
Josh Dick, an information center specialist for Information Systems, said he liked the fact that he can make his gifts through payroll deduction. Dick said he also believes strongly in giving back to the community on a volunteer basis and supporting charitable causes.
"I feel I've been blessed with having a job, a wife with a good job and four healthy kids," he added. The way the Hour Club is structured, each participant gives the same percentage of their paycheck regardless of their income.
Eric Penniman, D.O., the Clinic's district medical director for primary care in the Wausau area, feels fortunate to practice medicine at Marshfield Clinic.
"Giving out of the money we make is in sync with our mission and why we come to work, caring for patients," he said. "I also like being able to designate areas where I would like my donations to go, because I feel passionate about them."