In today's ever-evolving healthcare philanthropy landscape, collaboration across departments is key to driving positive change and supporting fundraising success. The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) recently hosted a panel discussion on this topic, and I was honored to be invited to present the state of collaboration between HonorHealth Foundation and HonorHealth human resources alongside my colleague, Wayne Frangesch, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer.

We have a common goal to build a positive culture throughout the organization. A satisfied and engaged employee is more likely to become a donor. Just as important, employees are key drivers of patient satisfaction, which also plays a role in business and fundraising success. Together, we have successfully leveraged existing HR programs to promote Foundation giving and vice versa.

A Partnership for the Future of Giving

The hospital’s annual employee regulatory training now features a Foundation training video to reinforce the message that both the hospital and the Foundation are nonprofit organizations that need their support. It has helped grow a philanthropic culture and resulted in both physician and employee giving. The result overall has been thousands more giving and millions being raised from within the organization to advance its mission of improving the health and wellbeing of those we serve.

The Foundation relationship also supports important HR initiatives. During COVID, the Foundation was able to secure in-kind donations of restaurant-quality family meals for healthcare workers to “grab and go” at the end of their shift. This was a popular option that relieved a stressor and gave them more time with family. At the request of a nursing council, the Foundation acquired massage chairs for each of our six medical campuses, a special self-care option that relieves stress at the front lines of care.

Philanthropic support also provided significant funding for employee benefits to mitigate the costs of fertility treatment, adoption, behavioral health/addiction counseling for employees and their families, and college scholarships for dependent children of our employees. We also held a funding drive specifically for the Employee Crisis Assistance Fund.

The collaboration between philanthropy and human resources holds immense potential for driving positive change. By leveraging each other's strengths and resources, we help drive cultural alignment, employee engagement and satisfaction and fundraising success.

With gratitude,

Jared A. Langkilde, MBA, CFRE
President & CEO

Grateful patients inspired to support nursing staff

In a twist of fate, Sue and Gary Knopp found themselves in a parallel health situation that would ultimately lead to some very important decisions, including support of their caregivers through the HonorHealth Nursing Excellence Endowment.

It was the winter of 2023 and both of them needed new right knees. Their primary care physician referred them to HonorHealth Medical Staff orthopedic surgeons at the Evangelista Orthopedic Clinic. Gary remarked that there was an instant connection to Dr. Perry Evangelista’s focused and educational style.

“We knew right away that this man cared about his patients. He took his time, answered all our questions and made us feel like he would take as much time as necessary to educate us on options and make a recommendation on the best solution for our issues.” A number of alternatives were discussed but in the end Sue and Gary wanted a permanent solution and opted for total knee replacements.

Inspirational care by staff

In overnight recovery at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn, Gary was inspired by the “care, competence and commitment” of the medical and physical therapy staff. “I always say that doctors make you healthy, but nurses keep you alive. I’ve never had better care,” remarked Gary.

It was that care that inspired him and his wife, Sue, to make a gift in support of the Nursing Excellence Endowment, which provides funds for advanced clinical care training of the nurse’s choice.

“Nursing is a difficult profession both physically and emotionally. In thinking about our bequest, we wanted to have maximum impact on people, so we could think of no better way to help others than to help those that help others,” states Gary. “So, when we heard of the Nursing Excellence Endowment, it seemed like a clear way to do that.”

With a shared philanthropic philosophy to support causes that make us all better, Gary and Sue “hope that our gift will make it easier for nurses to get the continuing education they need when they need it.”

We are honored to be trusted with your gift, Sue and Gary, and know it will leave an educational and inspirational impact on the HonorHealth nursing staff. Thank you for your overwhelming generosity.

State Forty Eight supports Greatest Needs Fund

For the month of July, the Foundation has a very special partnership in support of HonorHealth’s Greatest Needs Fund. Foundation T-shirts are now available for purchase through State Forty Eight. The shirt combines the passion of Arizona pride with your philanthropic support of HonorHealth Foundation. Five dollars of every purchase returns to the Greatest Needs Fund to provide the flexibility to move quickly to take advantage of new opportunities or address unexpected situations.

Donor generosity has helped HonorHealth, your community hospital system, provide the most comprehensive and personalized care to every patient who enters hospital doors. From exceptional clinical care to a 30-strong fleet of germ-zapping robots — funded in part by the Greatest Needs Fund. Because of you, our community is healthier and our hospital system proactive and nimble.

A T-shirt is an easy way to give back and show your philanthropy in action. Purchase yours through July 31. Available in men’s and women’s cuts in black, brown and purple.

Women's "Team Purple" V-neck is $34 and is available in sizes small to 2XL.
Men's "Purple Rush" crew neck is $34 and is available is sizes XS to 3XL.

Minimally invasive surgery puts patient back on his feet

Paul suffered from lower back pain for five long years. He thinks he initially injured his back by lifting a heavy object, a common cause of lower back pain.

To alleviate the chronic pain, he tried numerous remedies, including physical therapy and medication. Those helped in the short term, but the pain returned two years ago, this time worse than ever. Not only did pain interrupt his sleep, but it also hurt when he walked or coughed. Nerve pain that shot down his leg into his calf disrupted his everyday activities. When he couldn't even stand to take a shower, he knew he needed to find a different solution. Luckily, he didn’t have to look far.

A diagnosis and plan forward

Paul’s wife, a pre-op coordinator in the critical care unit at HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center, recommended he talk with Luis M. Tumialán, MD, a neurosurgeon and independent member of the HonorHealth Medical Staff.

According to Dr. Tumialán, Paul had a herniated disc. After exhaustive nonoperative measures, it became clear that if Paul wanted long-term relief, he would need surgery to remove the pressure on his nerve.

Minimally invasive approach speeds healing time

Dr. Tumialán specializes in minimally invasive microdiscectomy, an operation that uses special instruments and an operating microscope to remove the herniated, or bulging, portion of a disc. In this procedure, the neurosurgeon makes a small incision — only 16-millimeters in length — immediately over the disc space to remove bone and identify the ailing nerve root.

"With specialized instruments, we can accomplish the same goal as an open spine surgery," Dr. Tumialán says. The operation is efficient — 45 minutes to an hour — and the recovery is fast. In fact, Paul was up and walking without pain within an hour of the operation.

Everything went smoothly and Paul was a great patient who stuck to the healing plan. "For the first 30 days, you can't lift anything more than five pounds, and the second month nothing more than 25 pounds," Paul said. "But I stuck to that because I was motivated! I had a two-week trip to Italy planned in a few months, and I was going to do a lot of walking. I wanted to be pain free."

Congratulations, Paul and Dr. Tumialán, on your success and return to health!

Wish upon a star with us

Join us in support of our tiniest and most fragile patients — the preemies in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Tickets are selling fast for the NICU Tea and Luncheon on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

This fun and philanthropic event boasts a reception, silent auction, special program and luncheon that you will not want to miss!

Learn more and get your NICU Tea and Luncheon tickets today!

Fashion Show benefiting breast cancer services

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! HonorHealth Foundation and Macy’s are working to give all women the strength to fight on their journey back to health with a special fashion show where proceeds return to HonorHealth Cancer Care!

You can help them fight, too. Buy a ticket to our “cancer catwalk,” in partnership with Scottsdale Fashion Square, and you’ll be donating to HonorHealth Cancer Care to support all patients navigating the breast cancer journey.

This fun and fashionable soiree will be held at Macy’s at Scottsdale Fashion Square on Saturday, October 5.

Learn more and get your fashion show tickets today!

Join us for breakfast

Food is medicine and HonorHealth Desert Mission ensures our most vulnerable neighbors have access to the nutrition they need. You can help too by joining us Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the annual Morning of Gold Breakfast benefiting Desert Mission’s services: Food Bank, Lincoln Learning Center and Adult Day Healthcare Center.

This year, we welcome guest speaker Lauren Bailey, CEO and co-founder of Postino’s. She will address food as medicine and what feeds her soul.

Learn more and get your Morning of Gold tickets today!

Help keep the heartbeat strong

Over the past four years, you and other members of our generous community have helped raise millions of dollars, enabling HonorHealth to expand its heart care program and build a new cardiovascular center, which will open with phase one in early 2025.

As we anticipate the lives that will be saved in this remarkable center of excellence, we know that the first step is ensuring that future patients can easily find the care they need. This was the purpose behind a name change that HonorHealth made recently, as the heart and vascular service line will become... HonorHealth Heart Care

This brand name is easy to remember, better aligned with web-based search and unifies all HonorHealth heart care services, support resources and collaborations with numerous specialists in locations across the Valley. HonorHealth Heart Care Center is the new name for the location at the HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center.

HonorHealth remains committed to providing the most comprehensive heart care in the Southwest, combining multi-specialty care with support services and cutting-edge research.

You answered the call, and you are an important part of our mission to deliver life-changing results for our heart patients.

Thank you for helping us keep the heartbeat of our community strong.