Partners in Health giving campaign picking up steam

Partners in Health giving campaign picking up steam

Partners In Health, the annual faculty and staff giving campaign that supports the mission of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is under way through June 30.

This internal effort is the only giving campaign designed for faculty and staff to give back to the Medical Center and support the areas they are most passionate about.

All funds stay within the Medical Center, and donors may direct funds toward a school, department or program of their choice.

Partners In Health is focused on participation at every level, and this year's participation goal for faculty is 50.01 percent.

Last year's campaign saw 46 percent faculty participation, with more than $1.7 million in gifts. Since 2007, Partners In Health has seen a 12 percent increase in participation.

“Participation has been steadily increasing, and we want to keep that momentum in 2011,” said Stephan Heckers, M.D., William P. and Henry B. Test Professor and chair of Psychiatry.

“Surpassing 50 percent participation in this year's campaign will be an extraordinary accomplishment and will inspire the philanthropic community outside Vanderbilt to help us in critical areas of research, education and health care.”

Heckers is serving as campaign co-chair, along with Roger Cone, Ph.D., Joe C. Davis Professor of Biomedical Science and chair of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Nancye Feistritzer, M.S.N., R.N., associate hospital director of Vanderbilt University Hospital and adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; and Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., James C. Overall Professor and chair of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“Motivations for giving vary widely, but all reflect devotion to the great work of our institution, in the hospital, clinic, lab and classroom,” Gitlin said.

“Supporting Partners In Health is a direct way to invest in the mission of our Medical Center and ensure that its good work continues.”

Currently, the participation level for the 2011 campaign is 27.47 percent, which is just more than halfway toward the goal. An additional 539 donors are needed to reach the goal.

The Partners In Health website can be accessed at www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/partnersinhealth.

Visitors can track campaign progress, read giving stories, make a donation via credit card, and set up a payroll deduction.

There is also a form that can be printed for those wishing to mail gifts in the form of checks.

For more information, call the Partners In Health campaign office at 343-7531 or email PartnersInHealth@vanderbilt.edu.