Rodgers Builders Partners with Levine Children’s Hospital, Levine Cancer Institute
Demonstrating its deep-rooted commitment to healthcare philanthropy, Rodgers Builders has made a mark on more than just the physical footprint of Atrium Health. The company has generously partnered with Atrium Health Foundation to support significant programs over the past year and has improved the lives of patients in our community.
The challenges of 2020 didn’t slow down Rodgers Builders’ dedication to Atrium Health patient programs, which benefited from the contractor’s commitment of $25,000 to the 2020 Levine Children’s Gala and its co-presenting sponsorship of the 10th Annual Keep Pounding 5K, held virtually last May. Additionally, as an early supporter of the Atrium Health Essential Needs Fund, and a leading corporate benefactor of Levine Cancer Institute’s Emergency Patient Feeding Program, Rodgers Builders has made a lasting impact on the health of frontline healthcare workers and medically fragile patients in need.
Fifth Third Bank Aids Efforts to Extend Mobile Testing to Communities in Need
Fifth Third Bank is a key partner in Atrium Health’s efforts to reduce barriers to care for underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a generous contribution of $10,000 in support of Atrium Health’s Coronavirus Mobile Testing Centers, Fifth Third Bank is helping Atrium Health continue to address the needs of underserved and minority communities by improving access to care with mobile testing sites positioned in communities of need.
Most recently, Fifth Third Bank’s Empower U has partnered with Atrium Health’s Workforce Development team to offer financial literacy workshops, tools, and resources to Atrium Health Teammates in our “Rise to Success” workforce development program, which provides both educational and employment opportunities for recent high school graduates from low-income neighborhoods who have an interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare. Learn more.
Epic Supports Atrium Health’s COVID-19 Feeding Program
For more than 40 years, Epic has been doing business “with the patient at heart.” The health information technology provider recently made generous contributions to the Levine Cancer Institute Critical Needs Fund and the Atrium Health COVID-19 Feeding Program to help those most deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Epic chose to support programs with maximum impact on patients in need. Atrium Health’s COVID-19 Feeding and Supply Program helps to ensure that low-income COVID-19 positive patients can safely quarantine at home without hunger or hardship by bringing essential supplies, food, over-the-counter medications, diapers, formula, and other essential needs to the doorsteps of low-income individuals and families in Mecklenburg County. Epic’s additional support of the Levine Cancer Institute Critical Needs Fund will allow the Institute’s Disparities and Outreach staff to deliver food kits to medically fragile patients based on their specific nutritional needs during cancer treatment. The Fund also helps to offset other expenses for patients, such as rent, household utilities, or other critical bills. With Epic’s support, both programs are going the distance for patients in need.
Coca-Cola Consolidated and Brasfield & Gorrie Bolster LCI Project PINK’s Screening Program
Coca-Cola Consolidated and Brasfield & Gorrie have both pledged to underwrite two Project PINK breast cancer screening days. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many at-risk women to delay or cancel appointments due to fear of infection or due to the cost of their appointment. This has triggered an increased need for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women in our community to have free access to potentially life-saving mammography and follow-up care.
Our partnership with Coca-Cola and Brasfield & Gorrie comes at a critical moment for the Project PINK program. With many government and local screening resources scaled back or discontinued due to COVID-19, Project PINK’s comprehensive breast screening and education program is a potentially lifesaving safety net for the underserved women in our community. Through Project PINK, LCI offers a safe, welcoming environment for early breast cancer detection services and support, including community education, free mammograms, and recommended follow-up care. In addition, women served through Project PINK are evaluated for eligibility to other free LCI screening programs such as lung and colorectal screenings, as well as a tobacco cessation support program. These community-minded companies are helping Levine Cancer Institute (LCI) achieve its mission to provide high-quality breast cancer care and screenings for those in greatest need.
Frampton Construction Joins Team IDEA in Support of Levine Children’s
For Joey and Lindsay Smith, participating in the 2020 virtual Hopebuilders 5K with Team IDEA, led by Dr. Niraj Patel, was a family affair. The Smith family regards Dr. Patel, a pediatric immunologist who leads the Charlotte Immunodeficiency Center at Carolinas Medical Center, and Team IDEA as tremendous blessings in their son Hunter’s life as he navigates his Primary Immune Deficiency with the help of Levine Children’s Hospital. Having been involved with Team IDEA for years, the Smith family took their support a step further in 2020 by engaging their company – Frampton Construction – in their fundraising efforts, helping Team IDEA raise nearly $19,000 for Levine Children’s Hospital through the 2020 virtual Hopebuilders 5K. To round out their generous support in 2020, Frampton Construction closed the year with a holiday surprise for patients and families at Levine Children’s Hospital, collecting over 700 new toys for patients and $2,000 in gift cards provided to patient-families over the holidays.
Scope Anesthesia Supports Women’s Health Services at Atrium Health
Scope Anesthesia of North Carolina has a commitment to the safety and well-being of its patients, one that extends beyond the hospital walls and into our community. Scope Anesthesia supports numerous philanthropic initiatives, including the Women’s Health Services Advancement Fund at Atrium Health Foundation. As Atrium Health’s trusted anesthesia provider, Scope Anesthesia of NC made their largest contribution to date — $42,000— through Atrium Health’s annual employee giving campaign. This contribution will support the work of Dr. Suzanna Fox, deputy chief physician and medical director of the Women’s Service Line, medical director of Eastover University OB/GYN, and vice chairman at Atrium Health University City.
Spirit Halloween Helps Levine Children’s Bring Hope and Healing to Patients
Since 2008, Spirit Halloween, North America’s largest Halloween store franchise, has brought the excitement, thrills, and chills of the season to patients at Levine Children’s Hospital through its Spirit of Children program, which collects in-store donations for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and provides memorable Halloween experiences for patients during their hospital stay. Last year, the program raised $89,700 to benefit Levine Children’s Hospital’s Child Life program, which supports the psycho-social and emotional needs of patients—and their family members—when coping with a child’s illness or treatment during a hospital stay. Certified Child Life Specialists at the hospital use medical play, video, and other recreational and educational tools to help restore a sense of control and normalcy in patients’ lives during their hospitalization. To date, local Spirit Halloween stores have helped raised $477,000 for this vital patient program.
Children’s Miracle Network Partners News from around the Greater Charlotte Region:
Corporate partners of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) continue to raise hope, funds, and awareness for 170 member hospitals across North America, including Levine Children’s Hospital. Funds raised from 2020 CMNH campaigns directly support innovative, state-of-the-art medical technology, treatments, and patient resources that enable Levine Children’s to deliver world-class pediatric care.
We’re grateful to several local CMNH partners who successfully wrapped up their 2020 fundraising campaigns and events in support of Levine Children’s:
Walmart and Sam’s Club
In 2020, more than 70 local Walmart and Sam’s Club stores demonstrated their commitment to Levine Children’s Hospital in a significant way, raising a record-breaking $462,758 during their annual “Help Kids Live Better” campaign. With this latest achievement, the company has succeeded in collectively raising more than $1 billion in charitable support for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide over the lifetime of the partnership.
Costco
Since 1988, Costco stores nationwide have proudly supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the retailer’s month-long Miracle Balloon Campaign. This year, three local stores located in Charlotte, Matthews, and Mooresville, raised over $97,000 for Levine Children’s Hospital.
Norsan Media
Thanks to generous community support, Norsan Media’s 10th Annual “Milagros Para Los Niños” Radiothon raised over $127,000 for Levine Children’s Hospital. The 2020 radiothon marked a special milestone as it signified 10 years of partnership with Norsan Media. Broadcast live from Norsan Media’s affiliate stations La Raza 106.1 FM, Hola News, Latina 102.3 FM, Estrella TV and La Zeta 107.5 FM, listeners were moved by stories of hope shared by families of former and current patients from the Hispanic community. Learn more.
Opportunities for Corporate Philanthropy in support of Atrium Health:
How your company can fundraise on behalf of Atrium Health:
Become a Fundraising Champion for a cause at Atrium Health: Create a personal or team fundraising page to support areas of greatest need across Atrium Health. Pages can be personalized to provide funding for a variety of needs at Atrium Health.
Pay Tribute: Create a fundraising page to honor or memorialize a loved one.
Create an event: Host your own third-party fundraising event in support of Atrium Health Programs and Service Lines. Review our event guidelines here.
Attend “A Night at the Drive-In” for Levine Children’s Hospital
For one night only, join us for “A Night at the Drive-In” benefiting Levine Children’s Hospital with live entertainment from Blues Traveler. This special event will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Car entry tickets start at just $250! Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. Purchase tickets and learn more.
Support the Atrium Health Nursing Fund
Every day, dedicated nurses provide patients across Atrium Health with care and support. The Atrium Health Nursing Fund was created to offer grateful patients, companies, families, and others a way to show appreciation for unparalleled care, with a charitable donation that advances the field of nursing within Atrium Health. The fund supports nursing education, services, programs, and advancement of initiatives within nursing departments at Atrium Health.
You can make a donation to the Atrium Health Nursing Fund and honor a single nurse, team, or unit belonging to any service line or at any facility within Atrium Health. You can honor a nurse with as little as a $100 donation through Nursing Stars, and the honored nurse will receive a pin that can proudly be displayed on their badge. All funds honoring nursing staff will have an amazing impact by providing the support that will advance the best possible education, training, and other needs for our nurses. Support the Atrium Health Nursing Fund.
RetinaVue 700 to Improve Care for Patients Living with Diabetes
Atrium Health’s community clinics serve many low-income patients with chronic diseases like diabetes. There is a pressing demand to screen patients living with diabetes for diabetic retinopathy to identify patients at risk of blindness or eye damage and to evaluate the eye for damage to the retina from the patient’s diabetes.
Our community clinics hope to purchase a RetinaVue 700 to offer this important service for diabetic patients. By utilizing the RetinaVue 700 at the community clinic Atrium Health will identify patients with retinopathy and connect the patient to follow-up care before significant damage has occurred to their eyes. To learn more, contact Leslie Sykes: AtriumHealthFoundation@atriumhealth.org.
Atrium Health’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Sites
Philanthropic giving helps Atrium Health deploy mass vaccination sites and smaller sites at local communities of faith or organizations within underprivileged neighborhoods. The roving units and “Community Immunity For All” campaign provide vaccinations to populations most disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We are also utilizing the “Community Immunity For All” platform to offer the Community Ambassador Program and Para Tu Salud to combat vaccine hesitancy. To learn more, contact Leslie Sykes: AtriumHealthFoundation@atriumhealth.org.
Atrium Health to Pilot Community Clinics Mini Pantry for Acute Food Needs
COVID-19 has worsened food insecurity for low-income populations in Charlotte. With the support of philanthropy, Atrium Health’s Myers Park Community Clinic (a safety net clinic near CMC-Main) plans to pilot a food pantry for families with acute food needs. After immediate needs are met, patients would then be linked to a week’s worth of food through our partner, Loaves and Fishes. The Myers Park Community Clinic has a goal of supporting patients’ and families’ transition to long-term solutions for those who initially utilize the mini pantry, which would serve as an entry point to a comprehensive program targeting food instability.
COVID-19 has drastically increased the need for this service: in December 2020 alone, there were over 185 families with 628 individuals referred for food assistance. Pre-pandemic in January 2020 the requests totaled just 13 families with 37 individuals. The clinic serves pregnant mothers, children, adults, and the elderly. There is also a need for a diaper bank and additional food resources given directly to patients.
To learn more, contact Leslie Sykes: AtriumHealthFoundation@atriumhealth.org.
Join Us in Pounding Out Cancer – It Takes A Team!
Join us in pounding out cancer in our region as a sponsor of the virtual Keep Pounding 5K. From May 31-June 5, we are asking corporate supporters and individual donors to take part in a virtual 5K by completing any physical activity during race week, forming fundraising teams, and raising vital funds to support cancer research and patient services at Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital. Learn more.