Lakewood Hospital established an Employee Care Fund (ECF) in late 2004 to assist its employees facing an urgent, unforeseen financial emergency. Lakewood Hospital employees, physicians and volunteers have raised money for the ECF primarily through the annual Hospital Employees Reaching Out (H.E.R.O.) Campaign. Included in the total raised was a gift of $10,000 from Lakewood Hospital's Medical Staff. An estimated $70,000 has been given to 81 Lakewood Hospital employees to prevent them from being evicted from their home, having their utilities shut-off, and for basic items such as food.

The program began from the urging of Fred DeGrandis, then CEO of Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran hospitals. Mr. DeGrandis, now president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic regional hospitals, extols the benefits of having such a program for employees. DeGrandis explains, “As employees in the healthcare field, we are often drawn to help external organizations raise funds to eradicate diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. I think it’s part of our professional calling, and I am pleased that we collaborate with local agencies to help provide a better quality of life. However, one of the greatest callings I have witnessed is the desire to care for and help each other.”

Many of the situations employees have presented when asking for funds do not fall into specific categories. For most applicants, this request is their last hope as other opportunities for support have been exhausted.

For example:

- A divorced mother of two young children requested financial assistance with utilities and food. Her ex-husband stopped paying child support and she had already received help from her parents, had exhausted her Paid Time Off, and had received disconnection notices.

- Another employee requested financial assistance with rent and utilities due to loss of income after death of a working parent with whom the employee lived and counted on for financial resources. The employee had received disconnection and eviction notices. Prior to asking for assistance, the employee sought help with a social service agency and church for food.

- Another employee requested financial assistance with utilities due to loss of income after her spouse suffered a disabling work injury. While waiting for Worker’s Compensation benefits she was able to pay her utilities.

The employees have been grateful for the assistance. One employee says, “I donated to the Employee Care Fund never thinking I would need such help. However, my circumstances changed; fate stepped in and the ECF support gave me strength I so desperately needed. My heartfelt thanks for the assistance … I am determined to be a donor again soon!”

“I am not surprised by the kindness of our employees,” says Jack Gustin, president of Lakewood Hospital. “We have the good fortune of being surrounded by compassionate people, who give generously, even when they don’t have much to give.”

Kristin Broadbent, director of Lakewood Hospital Foundation and ECF coordinator says, “We can each take comfort knowing that because of the ongoing support of employees and physicians, the resources of the Employee Care Fund are available to provide that extra margin of help sometimes so desperately needed.”

“We strive to be the best place to receive care, to practice medicine and to work,” says Gustin. “The Employee Care Fund is an important initiative that allows us to be the best all around. I am extremely grateful to all of those who donate to the fund. Thank you for making a vital difference to our valued Lakewood Hospital family.”

For more information on giving opportunities at Lakewood Hospital, call 216-529-7009 or visit lakewoodhosptial.org and click on “Giving Opportunities.”

Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is a 400-bed acute care hospital that has served the diverse health care needs of the City of Lakewood and Cleveland’s Westshore communities since 1907. Offering a wide range of health services and education programs for women, men and children, each year Lakewood Hospital provides high-quality and innovative patient care for more than 130,000 patients. lakewoodhospital.org