this is your gift - Methodist Health System

this is your family
Methodist employees lend a helping hand to co-workers, community
2011 Crossroads Annual Report
26
You tend to the sick, evaluate lab and imaging
tests, care for babies, comfort families, and keep
the hospitals clean and efficient. Yet you, Methodist
Health System’s employees, still find it in your hearts
to support Methodist financially.
Hundreds of you belong to the 30-Minute Club
(30MC), donating 30 minutes of your salary per pay
period to support special projects at the hospital or
to the BEN (Basic Employee Need) Fund, which
distributes one-time grants to employees in times
of critical need.
Then in October, you kicked off the Give Like a Rock
Star! employee giving campaign, raising thousands
more dollars. This campaign was also a chance to
support United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, which
meets community health and human services needs
throughout the Metroplex.
It seems your generosity knows no bounds.
Consider how you helped Mike Duke, stationary engineer
at Methodist Dallas Medical Center for the past
27 years. A couple of years ago, esophageal cancer
treatment left him out of work for a year.
“My boss, Moe Fotoohi, went to the Methodist Foundation
and explained my situation,” Duke says. “The
BEN Fund stepped up, and I was able to pay some
bills and carry on till I got back to work. Even my
co-workers had taken up a collection.”
When Duke came back to work in January this year,
he decided to pay it forward and become a 30MC
member himself. Duke’s story also inspired other
co-workers to start contributing to the fund.
“I want to thank everyone who contributed to the
30-Minute Club,” Duke says. “It helped me more
than you know. I just hope that I can repay whoever
needs help next.”
Your kindness: A source of strength
Anh Meinschein, pharmacy technician at Methodist
Dallas, is equally grateful for the support she received.
In February 2010, a biopsy revealed that her husband,
Mark, had cirrhosis of the liver, a condition that left him
so weak that Mrs. Meinschein became the couple’s
sole provider. Six months later, her husband also
had a seizure and stroke and spent almost a week
in the hospital.
When an unexpected check from the BEN Fund
arrived in the mail, Mrs. Meinschein was moved
to tears, relieved to have help with finances.
“But the main thing is how it helped my spirit,” she
says. “I feel I’m not alone, and I feel that the hospital
really cares for me, and that helps me.”
Over time, Mr. Meinschein’s condition has worsened,
and he is now applying to get on a liver transplant list.
While his wife is concerned for his health, she remains
grateful for the support of those around her.
“I thank you, the BEN Fund, and everybody from the
bottom of my heart,” she says. “You give employees
comfort and hope during the most difficult times in
their lives.”
You make lasting impressions
Duke and Mrs. Meinschein both find it difficult to talk
about their stories, but their hope is that others will
be inspired to make a small sacrifice that makes a
great difference. Thank you to all employees whose
contributions led to such a successful employee giving
campaign and who set the example of generosity.
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of
your co-workers or support Methodist’s medical
and community initiatives, call the Methodist
Foundation at 214-947-4555. 30MC applications
are also available on the Methodist intranet.