Greenville Hospital System raises record

United Way community campaign Chair Howard Boyd congratulates Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center Campaign Coordinator Jo Powell on the hospital system's record-breaking employee campaign total.

Officials at the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS) announced Thursday its employees have raised $909,076 thus far for United Way’s 2009 community campaign.

With this year’s effort, GHS becomes the first workplace campaign in Greenville County to surpass the $900,000 mark for employee contributions.

“Greenville Hospital System employees continue to show they are deeply committed to providing the best services to our community, both through their own work and through their support of United Way,” said Greenville attorney Howard Boyd, chair of United Way’s 2009 campaign. “This year’s outstanding increase in giving shows providing care is more than just a job for GHS employees and we can’t thank them enough for their support.”

GHS’s total represents a nearly 24 percent increase over last year’s contribution of $733,403. In 2008, the hospital system had the third highest employee contribution, behind only Michelin North America ($777,131) and Fluor Corporation ($772,795).

The announcement came as United Way of Greenville County strives to hit a campaign goal of $14.6 million in 2009. The two-month campaign officially kicked off Sept. 2 with the announcement that 23 Pacesetter companies—those companies which “set the pace” for the campaign by starting fundraising efforts prior to the official kickoff—had the campaign off to a running start toward the 2009 goal by contributing more than $2.8 million, or 19 percent of the overall target.

Dollars raised in the campaign will be used to fund United Way’s two-pronged approach to strengthening communities across Greenville County by: 1) helping people in need right now through the funding of 92 local programs; and 2) helping eliminate future needs by addressing “root cause” issues of school readiness for young children, increasing high school graduation rates and improving overall financial stability.

The campaign closes Friday, Oct. 30. Final results will be announced Thursday at noon during a special luncheon at the Carolina First Center in Greenville.

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