Employees “Light It Up” for Torch Campaign

“Dedicated…generous…committed…giving. These are the words that come immediately to mind when I think about our employees,” says Joe Landsman, the medical center’s president and CEO, as he recounts the success of the 2010 Torch Campaign. “I couldn’t be more grateful or more impressed.”

And there’s good reason to be both grateful and impressed. One year ahead of schedule, University of Tennessee Medical Center, UT Graduate School of Medicine, and University Physicians’ Association employees surpassed their $1 million five-year goal for the Torch Campaign. In fact, 2010 contributions to the Torch Campaign have brought the total amount raised to $1,071,268 as of October 25, 2010.

“We are so fortunate to have people working throughout our campus who not only provide excellent healthcare but also care enough to give financially in order to enhance our programs and services,” says James Neutens, dean of UT Graduate School of Medicine. “It’s a cliché, but their actions speak louder than words.”

Each year the Torch Campaign is led by a committee of employees who volunteer their time to the campaign’s management and mission and who communicate to more than 4,000 fellow employees the tremendous impact their gifts will have on patient care, education, and research. By participating in the campaign, employees can directly see how much far-reaching help their generosity provides to patients and families throughout East Tennessee.

“I care so much about this hospital, about our patients, and about the amazing things we do here. It makes me feel great to give to and be a part of the Torch Campaign. All of us know that this is one more way we can make this a fantastic place to work and continue excelling at the thing we do best – providing superior patient care,” says Garlena Lee, director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic and a Torch Campaign co-chair.

 Gifts made to the Torch Campaign have benefited numerous programs and departments across our organizations: 

• All Center of Excellence departments and programs at the medical center
• The Magnet Journey and other nursing efforts
• Graduate School of Medicine research and education programs
• Pastoral Care and the Crisis Fund
• The building campaigns for the Heart Hospital, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Family Medicine, the Health Information Library, operating room renovations, the Medical Simulation Center, and the Radiation Oncology department within the new Cancer Institute.

Gifts to the Torch Campaign touch every part of the medical center campus and are received from employees in all areas of the hospital. Thousands of employees donate each year, often to medical center programs that have impacted their own lives.

“When the Torch Campaign began this year, it was very important for me because I was able to give in honor of all the nurses and physicians who were part of the team that cared for my wife during her hospital stay earlier this year, and to continue my support of the medical center’s patient care programs,” says Joe Giebudowski, a member of the Maintenance Department team at the medical center. 

“It’s so gratifying to actually see our contributions come to life and make a difference,” says chaplain Ben Lewis, a member of the Pastoral Care department who works closely with the Heart Lung Vascular Institute and the staff, patients, and families of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.

“As an employee family, we came together to help patients, families, and our peers. The Torch Campaign impacts both the Pastoral Care department and the Heart Lung Vascular Institute,” Lewis says. “Torch contributions helped build the Heart Hospital, and they also help Pastoral Care programs like Clinical Pastoral Education and the Chaplain Crisis Fund.”

 “Even during tough economic times, our employees continue paying it forward,” notes Joe Landsman. “They do that not only by demonstrating their commitment to our mission each and every day in the workplace but also by going the extra mile as contributors and participants in the Torch Campaign. My genuine thanks and heartfelt gratitude go out to all of them for their willingness to support what we do and believe in so passionately.”

For more information regarding the Torch Campaign, please contact the Development Office at 865-305-6611 or email.

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