Strength from Within Employee Giving Campaign Raises Record Amount!

2020 will go down as one of the most challenging years VNSNY has ever faced. But just as we’ve met every challenge around caring for our patients, plan members and clients, our staff also responded with its largest-ever participation in VNSNY’s 2020 Strength from Within Employee Giving Campaign. Not only did the campaign raise a record-breaking $138,688 from several hundred colleagues—despite the obstacles created by the pandemic—but more than 400 employees also participated in a special 2020 PTO drive, donating precious time off to support furloughed colleagues.

“Strength from Within is just a small part of what each and every one of our staff does every day, but it’s such an important part. We couldn’t do this without their support,” says Catherine Callaway, Vice President, Marketing and Development. “Every donation matters and has an impact. This campaign exemplifies the spirit of philanthropy and giving that defines our organization. I am so grateful to everybody who participated this year.” VNSNY’s senior leadership team played a role as well, encouraging colleagues with a $40,000 matching gift grant.

As with so much our staff has accomplished during COVID, flexibility, creativity, and inspiration were key to the initiative’s success. For Dana Edwards, Associate Director, Private Care, Partners in Care, this meant figuring out a novel way to meet his goals as a Strength from Within Mission Champion. “In prior years, I set up a country fair-style space with a golfing station, basketball, beanbag toss, Plinko, and other fun things, where staff could pop in and pay a dollar for a turn,” he recalls. “This year, obviously, I had to figure out a new way to make people feel connected and inspire contributions.”

After some thought, Dana hit on the perfect virtual formula: instant recognition. “The moment anybody donated money I’d give them an instant, public shout-out to the entire mailing list,” he says. “Kind of like in the Jerry Lewis telethons, when he’d stand next to a volunteer and call out the name of the donor in real time. As soon as I started that, the donations came pouring in. Immediate recognition is very powerful and positive motivator.” If someone preferred to keep their name private, adds Dana, then he would announce their anonymous donation.

Staff during the virtual bingo ‘Strength from Within” fundraising event.

Virtual fund-raisers held by VNSNY’s Wellness Department were another popular pivot from in-person fund-raising, as was virtual bingo, the brainchild of Joanne Lee, Development Officer. “To be honest, initially I wasn’t even sure anybody would show up,” laughs Joanne. “But we wound up with more than 70 people from across the organization, including some family members. It was a lot of fun, which helped make it a success. I even heard from somebody’s mom, who told me how much she enjoyed the event!” Participants also like the fact that 100% of the money they donate goes to the campaign, she notes. “With Strength from Within, this is another great motivator.”

In another interesting change from other years, participants in the 2020 campaign were a lot more specific in terms of how they directed their donations—with a particular focus on the most underserved. “I think everybody wanted to make sure that our Community Benefit and Charitable Care programs continue during the pandemic,” says Catherine. “Our employees understood that the most vulnerable communities would be the most adversely impacted by COVID, and it made them even more supportive of VNSNY’s initiatives.”

“VNSNY’s community and charitable care programs make a life-changing difference to thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers every year—and this year more than ever, due to the pandemic,” says VNSNY President and CEO Dan Savitt. “From the Mission Champions to the hundreds of employees across the organization who contributed donations, I could not be prouder of everyone at VNSNY who participated in this year’s Strength from Within drive with such generosity and agility. At a difficult and challenging time, you rose to the occasion, as you always do. I can’t thank you enough!”