(Photo above: PacificSource employees | provided by Partners in Care)
When it comes to charitable contributions, corporations can have a significant impact. Whether it’s through grants, matching funds, or volunteer time, it’s gratifying to see the business community express their values and lead by example.
To recognize this giving spirit, Partners In Care, the leading provider of end-of-life health care in the Central Oregon region, presented its 2015 Corporate Philanthropy Award to the employees of PacificSource Health Plans. Dan Stevens, Executive Vice President and executive leader at the Central Oregon office of PacificSource, as well as several other employees, received the award on December 1 at the #GivingTuesday kick-off at Partners In Care.
During the course of the year, PacificSource employees held various fundraising events resulting in gifts of over $12,000 to Partners In Care. Additionally, employees spent time landscaping the grounds at Hospice House, painted an aspen tree mural on the walls of the counseling room, and performed music at the annual volunteer appreciation dinner and the Light Up A Life service of remembrance and gratitude at Partners In Care.
Some of the funds raised by PacificSource were used to sponsor Camp Courage, a four-day camp offered to children throughout Central Oregon who have suffered the loss of a loved one. The camp offers art, games, and pet therapy in a fun, safe, and healing environment for the children.
Other funds were donated to Partners In Care to erect a new Pet Park—an enclosed, off-leash area where visitors of patients at Hospice House can spend time with their pets. Funds were used to construct a fence, install a wheelchair-accessible walkway and concrete pad, and provide benches as well as pet care supplies. The Pet Park is dedicated to the memory of three PacificSource employees.
PacificSource Health Plans also provided a two-year grant through their Community Health Excellence program, awarding Partners In Care over $90,000 for the launch of the community-based out-patient palliative care program.
“We are enormously grateful to the employees at PacificSource for all they have done for us this year,” said Eric Alexander, CEO at Partners In Care. “Whether they provided a monetary donation or gave of their time and talents, their team made a major impact on our staff and the organization. They are loyal partners in our mission, and each one of them has a heart of gold.”
Marlene Carlson is the chief development officer at Partners In Care, Central Oregon’s only independent, non-hospital based, not-for-profit hospice, home health and palliative care organization. For more information, visit partnersbend.org.
