Community members and local businesses give of their time and talent to have an impact on Marshfield Clinic patients. Clinic providers and staff are no different.
Our employees have long been known for extending themselves to help patients, advancing the Clinic's mission, and assisting people in need.
In 2014, they once again demonstrated this compassion and generosity. Throughout the year, employees went above and beyond expectations by supporting the Clinic's three-part mission through their donations. Their efforts resulted in nearly $315,000 to support patient needs, educational opportunities and research projects.
Project Shine
This year's employee giving appeal theme
Going Above and Beyond was the perfect way to honor this generosity. Employee and physician gifts totaled more than $185,000 during the Project Shine campaign.
"We wanted to do something fun that made people feel good, celebrated the hard work they do and showed what it means to be part of Marshfield Clinic," said Rikki Starich, annual giving officer. The
Going Above and Beyond theme was accompanied with aviation-themed activities.
Each year Project Shine features employee fundraising taking place within departments of all sizes and centers throughout the system. These events are a chance to raise money for good causes, learn more about how philanthropy impacts Marshfield Clinic patients and build team spirit and camaraderie.
In addition to the nearly 600 employees who made individual gifts to support the campaign, countless people participated in these grassroots efforts. Departments hosted blue jean days, soda and snack sales, bake sales and even a paper airplane contest.
Stock in the Mission
When Marshfield Clinic completed its governance conversion last spring to a non-stock corporation, each shareholder physician was returned the $1,000 investment they made at the time of becoming a shareholder.
At the time of this conversion, they were also given the chance to donate their redemption proceeds back to the Clinic, a unique opportunity no other shareholders have been given in the Clinic's history. Altogether, 122 physicians chose to do so, resulting in $121,500 in additional support of the mission of the Clinic.
Many physicians chose to support their local patient care funds, meaning the gifts made a difference for the patients they are treating every day. In addition physicians supported educational and residency programs, medical research in many different diseases and other priority areas throughout the Clinic system.
Pink Days
Marshfield Clinic employees raised money and showed support of breast cancer patients through the annual "Pink Days." Each Wednesday in October is designated a day for employees to wear pink to help raise awareness of breast cancer.
New this year, employees could purchase a button that reads "I wear pink in honor of…," giving the fundraising initiative a more personal tie-in for many staff.
"Walking through the halls seeing buttons in support of colleagues, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, daughters and special friends was really powerful," said Kathy Leick, manager of student programs. "We all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer and it's nice to show our support."
In addition to the button sales, departments and centers organized special fundraisers. Shellie Donovan, R.N. B.S.N., breast care coordinator at the Minocqua and James Beck Cancer Centers, sold pink and black Hope t-shirts advertising breast cancer services in the Northwoods.
"The shirts show people they are not fighting alone and give patients more knowledge about where to turn if they need help," Donovan said. Proceeds from the t-shirt sales supported the Northwoods Cancer Care Fund.
