Having grown up in the HHS family, I’ve seen the company go through tremendous growth and change over the years. From when HHS began in 1975, with just one service line at one hospital in Texas, to where we are now, with five service lines at more than 450 healthcare facility partners across the United States, there have been so many great opportunities for us to positively affect the lives of our many team members. With more than 14,000 team members today, this is more true now than ever before.
I remember back in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina came through and devastated the homes of so many of our team members. Seeing the hardships that so many people went through was one of the first incidents that made us realize the need for the HHS Care Fund.
The HHS Care Fund officially began in 2014 as a way for team members to support their peers. HHS wanted team members to know that they would be supported during difficult times; whether caused by natural disasters, sudden health problems, or other unexpected and unavoidable issues that may arise. You never know when someone may experience a catastrophic life event, so giving people a clear path to ask for assistance can provide a real sense of comfort in difficult times.
The Care Fund provides an option for team members to donate funds from their paychecks throughout every level of the company--every cent of these donations goes straight to the Care Fund. Most people who donate give about a dollar per paycheck, which is fantastic, and we even have some individuals who donate up to $20 from every paycheck they receive. With a current total of 2,299 individual contributors, those amounts can really add up.
The donations really create a win-win situation: When team members donate to the fund it builds camaraderie and unity, and when team members receive the donations they feel supported by their company and their peers.
When a team member in Louisiana found herself without a home after her rental flooded, the Care Fund was able to pay her rent at a new home so that she and her husband could begin to rebuild their lives.
After a team member in Texas lost her home and personal belongings in a fire, the Care Fund helped her to purchase new furniture and household goods so that she and her young son could get back on their feet while their home was being repaired.
In Pennsylvania, when a team member’s husband was rushed to the hospital with sudden medical issues requiring surgery, the Care Fund supported the family by helping to pay his medical bills.
When a team member in Florida experienced domestic violence at home, the Care Fund helped to get her and her children into a new, safe living situation.
A team member in Texas who suffers from seizures and was found by his Assistant Director passed out on a concrete floor. With three broken bones in his neck, the Care Fund helped to cover the emergency surgery that he required.
After the husband of a team member in Florida spent extended time in the hospital before passing away, the Care Fund helped the team member cover her expenses to ease the financial burden of losing her spouse.
Having the opportunity to manage the donations for the Care Fund is so rewarding and is a good reminder for me to be thankful for all that I have. It is an honor to be able to help meet our team members’ needs in times of crisis, and I want to personally thank all of our Care Fund contributors throughout the company. Without you, none of this would be possible.