News
All in a day’s work
Premier healthcare alliance employees donate more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service, 1,100 pounds of supplies for North Carolina troops overseas and their families
November 6 volunteer events organized by Hands On Charlotte, N.C. National Guard; part of Premier’s annual all-employee Values Conference
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (November 7, 2007) – More than 3,000 community service hours from some 800 employees, and 1,100 pounds of goods and supplies for local troops based overseas and their families – all in a day’s work for employees of the Premier healthcare alliance in partnership with two local organizations.
Under the guidance of Hands On Charlotte, Premier employees from across the country yesterday donated more than 3,000 hours of community service to 15 non-profit and government organizations at 28 locations throughout the Charlotte region. During the past three years, Premier employees have donated nearly 8,000 hours of service in the Greater Charlotte community in just three days as a part of their annual all-employee Values Conference.
“We look at Premier as representing the best of corporate citizenship,”
said Bob Young, executive director at Hands On Charlotte, a nonprofit
organization that strengthens the community by making volunteering more
accessible to individuals, families, groups and businesses. “Collectively
and individually, the company actively lives its value of service to the
community.”
In addition, Premier employees donated approximately 1,100 pounds of goods and supplies for North Carolina Army National Guard soldiers based in Iraq and Afghanistan and families of deployed service members. Through Operation Premier Care Package, troops will receive the likes of CDs, DVDs, books and snacks, while their families will receive, among other things, 20 new bikes and helmets.
"It is always uplifting to Guardsmen and their families to see the generosity of their fellow citizens,” said Major Matt Handley, State Public Affairs Officer, North Carolina National Guard. “During the stressful time of deployment, the little things can really make a difference. We truly thank Premier for their thoughtful and generous donations upholding a proud American tradition of standing behind the men and women in uniform and their families."
For the second consecutive year, Premier’s day of service was organized by Hands On Charlotte. Through its BusinessCares program, Hands On Charlotte helps companies such as Premier develop comprehensive, company-wide volunteer engagement. Premier’s volunteers participated in a wide variety of tasks, including painting, landscaping, processing donations and cleaning streambeds. Their efforts benefited a number of nonprofit and community organizations, such as Classroom Central, Hinds Feet Farm, Charlotte Nature Museum, and Lutheran Family Services.
“These generous donations of time and supplies further emphasize Premier employees’ passion for serving our communities,” said Richard Norling, president and CEO of Premier. “Their efforts carry on a proud Premier tradition of supporting those in need."
As part of Premier’s Social Responsibility program, the alliance encourages direct community service by both individuals and teams. Premier provides employees paid time off for volunteering, donating $50 to registered charities for every eligible four hours an employee volunteers, as well as matching employee United Way contributions.
Employees volunteer at the Arts & Science Council, Habitat for Humanity, Communities in Schools, Lifespan, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Second Harvest Food Bank, Operation Christmas Child, Classroom Central, Kindermourn, and Charlotte Community Health Clinic. They are also active in blood drives and disaster relief efforts such as those following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Each month, Premier holds a “Jeans Day” to raise money for national charitable organizations; employees wear blue jeans to work to signify that they have made a contribution to such organizations.
Premier’s Corporate Social Responsibility program also recognizes innovative not-for-profit organizations that meet the needs of the medically underserved and those outside the healthcare mainstream. Established 15 years ago, the Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award program annually honors a winner and five runners-up with $190,000 in cash awards along with opportunities for publicity and knowledge-sharing.
The Premier Values Conference is an annual gathering at company expense open to Premier employees from across the country. The meeting helps the company define and build a corporate culture consistent with its values which include integrity, innovation, passion for performance and focus on people.
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
recipient
Serving 1,700 hospitals and more than 49,000 other healthcare sites, Premier
is the largest healthcare alliance in the United States dedicated to
improving patient outcomes while safely reducing the cost of care. Owned by
not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of the nation's largest
healthcare purchasing network, the most comprehensive repository of hospital
clinical and financial information and one of the largest policy-holder
owned, hospital professional liability risk-retention groups in healthcare.
Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has offices in Charlotte, N.C.,
Philadelphia and Washington. For more information, visit
www.premierinc.com.
About Hands On Charlotte
A non-profit organization founded in 1991, Hands On Charlotte’s mission is
to strengthen our community and enrich lives by mobilizing a diverse,
committed corps of citizens in direct volunteer service. Through special
events such as its annual Hands On Charlotte Day event, and its ongoing
calendar of volunteer projects, Hands On Charlotte creates and manages more
than 800 volunteer projects every year and touches the lives of thousands of
Charlotte citizens, including seniors, people with disabilities, children
from low-resource neighborhoods, adults dealing with illiteracy, and much
more. Additional information regarding Hands On Charlotte can be found at
www.handsoncharlotte.org, or
by calling 704-333-7471.
Contacts:
Alven Weil, Premier Inc.
704-733-5797
Alven_Weil@premierinc.com
Bob Young, Hands On Charlotte
704-333-7471
BobY@handsoncharlotte.org
** Photos by Andrea Mellen