Tackling tough times together: HCA Healthcare Hope Fund grant maximum increases

While the HCA Healthcare culture is rooted in service to others, giving back to community and caring like family, perhaps Chief Human Resource Officer John Steele said it best. “We know that when someone in our HCA Healthcare family is in need, we want to help.”

That’s why the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, our employee-run nonprofit organization, has taken the important next step to increase its grant maximum to $5,000 for colleagues faced with unexpected hardships.

Effective immediately, HCA Healthcare team members in need may receive the new level of assistance when faced with disasters of many kinds – illness, injury, domestic violence, the death of a loved one or any number of unavoidable circumstances.

“We have come a long way since the Hope Fund began in 2005 and gave a maximum grant of $1,000 for colleagues in distress,” said Joe Flynn, president of the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund. “Thanks to the generous support from colleagues all across the country, we now can provide five times more help when it is needed most.”

Giving hope

The newly enhanced $5,000 grant maximum is one of a few defining moments for the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund.

After the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season that included Harvey, Irma and Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico, our year-round charitable fund, in an unprecedented move, requested and received approval from its board of directors to extend its reach beyond HCA Healthcare colleagues and provide disaster travel assistance to and from the U.S. territory for employees or eligible family members.

In 2018, colleagues powerfully showed up for members of the HCA Healthcare family affected by natural disasters. HCA Healthcare Hope Fund support to families affected by Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael and the Hill and Woolsey Fires reached $1,123,725.

Affiliate Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center demonstrated significant need, with 65% of colleagues needing assistance after Hurricane Michael devastated their community. Through the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, 1,129 families affected by the Category 5 hurricane were aided.

What’s more, the commitment of more than 30,000 HCA Healthcare donors contributed to the record-breaking $50 million in assistance provided to colleagues in need this past March.

Proudly, since its inception in 2005, the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund has distributed more than 33,500 grants in support to HCA Healthcare families.

Taking care of patients, and each other

Through the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund, and our colleagues’ generosity and desire to make a positive impact in the lives of each other, we are proud to be able to assist coworkers like Lisa Prosser, a nurse at TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Lisa went through a difficult period earlier this year when her father fell ill in Ohio. An experienced caregiver, the operating room nurse never hesitated to drop everything in order to be by her dad’s side. Unfortunately, Lisa began struggling financially due to time off of work and trips back and forth from Ohio to Tennessee.

“I have been giving to the Hope Fund for quite a few years now, but I’ve never had to use it,” she explained. “In the (family and medical) leave packet I received, there was a sheet saying if you need assistance, you can apply with the Hope Fund. I decided to apply because I was struggling and getting behind on my bills.”

Lisa was approved for Hope Fund assistance and felt “relief” that she could spend more time with her dad. “It helped take the burden off my shoulders,” the 34-year veteran nurse said.

Sadly, Lisa’s dad passed away on February 19, 2019. After reflecting on her experience with the Hope Fund, Lisa said:  “I promised my dad I would never put him in a nursing home, and because of the company I work for and the people I work with, I was able to keep my promise.”

“I’ve been a nurse for 34 years and I’ve never worked for a more family-oriented company,” she continued. “The paid family leave is amazing, and my coworkers donated PTO to me, and especially the Hope Fund – all these things allowed me to keep my promise to my father and be there for him in his final days.”

“I just can’t thank my colleagues enough. They were all there for me.”

We’re grateful to our colleagues for their continued support of the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund and for keeping their promise to improve more lives in more ways – starting with each other.

In 2018 alone, the Hope Fund provided 3,762 families with more than $7 million in assistance. Visit here to learn more about the Power of Hope through the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund. It’s a perfect example of what it means to work at HCA Healthcare.