SOUTH PUGET SOUND – Currently, 100-plus caregivers (including several anonymous donors) are members of Providence Foundation’s “I Give One Hour” club, and donate one hour of their pay, per pay period, to help those who entrust their care to Providence Swedish South Puget Sound. This unprecedented level of giving demonstrates their high level of commitment to our Mission and community. A sincere thank you to all of our club members for their generosity, leadership, and dedication to giving and helping patients, fellow employees and our community.
Dr. Gregg VandeKieft has been a part of Providence medical staff since March 2002. The support he provides to the foundation is directed to No One Dies Alone (NODA), a program that ensures hospitalized patients are not alone when they reach their end-of-life journey.
“My decision to give to the Providence South Puget Sound Foundation stems from a belief in the importance of building resources to support the growth of essential services that otherwise might not exist,” said Dr. VandeKieft.
He spoke on behalf of NODA and other vital foundation-based services at the Foundation’s annual gala and has since focused his giving on programs that are an essential part of Providence’s mission but are not sustainable through traditional business models.
“I’ve also appreciated how integral the Foundation is in stimulating innovation. In 2004 the only source of specialized palliative care was for people on hospice. Palliative care was not available to hospitalized patients or community patients who were not on hospice. The Foundation supported us in securing external grants, administered by the Foundation, that enabled us to create the inpatient Palliative Care Service at St. Peter Hospital and to later expand it to Providence Centralia Hospital. In 2014, the Foundation designated the Providence Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic as the annual Fund-a-need program. Our program is now widely regarded as one of the premiere palliative care services in all of Providence and in all the Puget Sound region. The Foundation’s role in this development was pivotal.”
As a caregiver for the Providence South Puget Sound Palliative Care Progam and Providence Sound Hospice, Dr. VandeKieft sees first-hand the importance of the care and compassion provided to patients during their end-of-life journeys.
“Despite challenges and uncertainties within the current health care landscape, my commitment to continue giving to the Foundation stems from a desire to ensure ongoing contributions with long-term effects, translating intentions into meaningful actions. My hope is that others share that vision and, by giving to what matters most to each of us, we can collectively work towards a future where compassionate care is accessible to all who need it.”
Every gift makes a difference to the people in our communities. By donating, you advance health care and wellness right here in South Puget Sound. Your support will help improve the lives of all of those under our care, especially the poor and vulnerable. Learn more here: Ways to Give | Providence Southwest Washington Foundation
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