HCA Healthcare colleagues support hundreds of nonprofits during Virtual Giveback

At HCA Healthcare, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life, not only in our hospitals but also in the communities we serve.  This is particularly true in times of crisis. Many throughout our country faced hardships like never before this year, but our colleagues stepped up to show their support and make a difference in the fight against the coronavirus.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HCA Healthcare hosted its first ever Virtual Giveback campaign in October. Colleagues were able to volunteer throughout the month at virtual or safe in-person events like Hack for the Community, an annual hackathon that brings together our information technology (IT) colleagues and other volunteers from Nashville’s tech industry to build websites and apps for local nonprofits. Other volunteer events included tree plantings at community parks and food and book drives. Colleagues also had the opportunity to give to community organizations online with HCA Healthcare’s gift matching program and share how they care for our communities on social media.

Thanks to the Virtual Giveback campaign, HCA Healthcare saw its biggest spike in volunteering and second biggest spike in giving since the start of the pandemic. In October, giving from all divisions equaled $366,508 in support of 518 organizations, and 1,260 volunteers spent 9,065 hours supporting 471 organizations.

“One of the greatest things a human being can do is to give of himself or herself to serve others,” says Jyoti (Jo) Agarwal, a principal statistical programmer at Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, who organizes free meditation workshops for her community. “Whenever we give selflessly, unasked for, we end up having more. There is no greater joy that can fill our heart than giving.”

Dottie White, a consulting provider solutions specialist with our South Atlantic Division, volunteers at a homeless shelter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She says the most rewarding part of volunteering is getting to know the shelter residents and celebrating their achievements.

“Working for an organization like HCA Healthcare that gives back is such a privilege,” Dottie says. “I love reading about the things that our organization does for our colleagues and local communities in need. It inspires me to do more!”

In addition to Virtual Giveback, HCA Healthcare colleagues joined people around the world in supporting community organizations on Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement that takes place every year on the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving. On Dec. 1, HCA Healthcare colleagues donated $180,948 in support of 593 organizations, including the HCA Healthcare Hope Fund. This colleague-run, colleague-supported 501(c)3 charity helps members of the HCA Healthcare family affected by natural disaster, extended illness/injury, domestic violence, death of a loved one and other hardships. In total, colleagues gave over $61,000 to the Hope Fund on Giving Tuesday. Because of the generous support of our colleagues, our Hope Fund eclipsed a record $10 million in assistance for the year on December 11, including $2.8 million for COVID-19-related needs.

“I feel fortunate to have found a company with true integrity where I’ve spent the bulk of my career, and to know that they not only allow but encourage us to give back,” says Parallon Revenue Cycle Point Solutions CEO Shannon Dauchot, who chairs the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night walk in Nashville. “Through encouragement of community service, generous giving, donation matching and, of course, quality healthcare and support of their patients, HCA Healthcare and Parallon do more than just talk about their purpose, they live it.”

Thank you to all of our colleagues for your continued commitment to supporting our communities and each other during this challenging year.