UPHS has always taken a leadership role in serving the community. In addition to providing care to those who are most vulnerable, we’re also proud to be known for our efforts to strengthen individual lives, families, and whole neighborhoods outside of our hospital walls. The successes we’ve achieved are based on the generosity and enthusiasm of the entire UPHS family.
We’ve made our presence felt in many positive, sustaining ways throughout the year. Most recently, more than three of every four of you made generous contributions to Penn's Way, the combined workplace charitable giving campaign of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine. I’m extremely proud to report that the Health System attained 117 percent of our goal -- a remarkable accomplishment. Your donations will help dozens of extraordinary organizations in our area provide life-changing and life-saving services to those in need. Here at Penn Medicine, each of our three hospitals, Abramson Cancer Center, Joan Karnell Cancer Center, Sayre Health Center, Scheie Eye Institute, and Penn Wissahickon Hospice all benefit from your generosity.
During this season of giving, there are many additional ways you’ve helped to make a real difference. Here are some.
HUP’s Holly Days Program supported two local facilities which shelter women and children by adopting families and obtaining toys and clothing for the children. It also supplied gift cards for food and necessities to homeless and runaway teens living at Covenant House, a crisis center in Philadelphia. The HUP Nursing Community Outreach program provided blankets and clothes to the residents of the St. Ignatius Nursing Home in West Philadelphia. In addition, it worked with Philabundance to help prepare holiday food donations for local food banks.
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Emergency Department's hospital-wide food and blanket drive supported the Fresh Start Emergency Food and Resources Services food pantry in West Philadelphia. PPMC also hosted its annual Children's Christmas Party for West Philadelphia young people, who received gifts of toys and clothing. Its nurses and other staff members also served dinners and distributed gifts at Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell's annual holiday party. PPMC’s PACU/SPU and GI departments adopted families from the Peoples Emergency Center and SPU staff members prepared and served hot meals for the shelter’s residents.
Pennsylvania Hospital’s Joan Karnell Cancer Center hosted its annual holiday giving program. Social workers identified needy patients who received gift cards for discount stores and gifts collected from hospital staff. The Center also hosted the annual holiday bake sale, with proceeds benefiting cancer patients and families in need. Kathy Magnes, administrator for the PAH Skilled Care Center, created and personally delivered gifts bags -- donated by PAH employees -- to homeless persons on the streets of Philadelphia Christmas morning. And the PAH Home-School Connection, an early intervention program providing clinical services to children and their families, conducted a toy drive for the needy children it serves.
During Project Santa, Penn Care at Home staff members added caroling and gifts to the home care and rehabilitation and hospice services they provide to homebound patients. Penn Wissahickon Hospice’s Light Up A Life ceremonies featured music, speakers, and the lighting of the Light Up A Life trees. Staff members from throughout UPHS made contributions and dedicated lights on the trees in honor or memory of patients, colleagues, friends, or loved ones. The contributions support the Needy Patient Fund, which helps finance hospice care for those who cannot afford to pay.
As these examples show, UPHS employees once more selflessly opened their hearts to brighten the holidays for those in need. Thank you for your inspiring generosity.
