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Giving the Honors
Date: December 14, 2009
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. – Matthew 2:11
It is no coincidence that gold, frankincense and myrrh were first Christmas gifts; these offerings of the magi are both symbolic and instructional.
Gold is a gift of lasting value. Frankincense is an aromatic gift that refreshes and, in early history, was burned as an act of worship. Myrrh was revered for its medicinal properties. In these three gifts are the elements we all should consider in giving: a gift should have lasting value, honor the recipient or be useful.
While Christmastime is the traditional season of giving, Floyd has created a culture in which giving is year-round, whether in support of local endeavors to help those who are less fortunate or to improve or expand the services we can provide. Individually, these gifts may be small, but combined they represent a sizeable investment in our community that reinforces our organization’s commitment to being a top community hospital.
In fiscal year 2009, Floyd provided $50.64 million in unreimbursed medical care to patients who could not afford it. Our employees touched 345,608 people through programs, screenings, free physical examinations and childbirth classes at a cost of $246,175.
Individually, Floyd employees donated more than $318,000, including $287,435 to Floyd Healthcare Foundation through SPIRIT, the foundation’s employee-giving club.
We’re continuing to touch lives this holiday season through greater involvement in Toys for Tots. Now that the Marine Armory Detachment has closed and relocated, our Emergency Medical Services Department, with help from the Public Relations department, played a much larger role in this year’s community-wide toy collection campaign. We added Polk County as a site for both toy collections and toy deliveries, and we have collected well over $2,500 in monetary donations in addition to over 1,500 toys. And, the Marine Corps League has asked Floyd to take on an even greater role next year.
Also, Floyd employees have pledged over $32,000 to the United Way campaign and $2,155 to Rome Action Ministries this year. And, these totals do not include the funds raised outside of Floyd by our employees to support their schools, churches and numerous local charities or the time our employees volunteer at The Free Clinic of Rome or at health fairs in communities throughout the area.
All totaled, our organization and our employees donated well over $51 million to help others in 2009, providing gifts of lasting value, that honor the recipients, and that provide health and healing to those who need it most.
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