Contact:
Julie Holland
Deaconess Medical Center, Marketing/Communications
(509) 473-7027

For Immediate Release:

October 14, 2009 - For the first time in several years, Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center conducted United Way campaigns and agreed to be pacesetter companies.  The employees of Deaconess and Valley exceeded their United Way campaign goals so significantly – hospital administration doubled its corporate Challenge Grant donation of $10,000 to $20,000!

“We wanted to express our gratitude and appreciation for the generous and heartfelt contributions of our employees,” says Deaconess Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Bill Gilbert.  “Our employees are in the business of taking care of people and saving lives.  Their generous personal donations demonstrate their commitment to helping take care of our community, especially during these difficult economic times.  We’re proud to honor them by increasing our corporate gift.”

In total, Deaconess employees donated $45,276, while Valley Hospital employees contributed $15,300.  With the $20,000 corporate gift, Deaconess and Valley Hospital raised more than $80,000 for United Way of Spokane County.  In addition, all of the employee contributions were considered “new” donations and qualified for the United Way Challenge Grant match.