Health Care
Grace's community stewardship efforts translate into many health care initiatives.
To date, we donated more than $2 million to St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby,
Montana. The funds were used to provide the state-of-the-art equipment needed to
screen, treat and care for Libby's residents. Another notable health care contribution
was our commitment to donate $1 million to the Howard County General Hospital in
Columbia, Maryland during the 2000 to 2010 period.
In another inspiring case, Grace employees and retirees from Curtis Bay, Maryland,
pedaled 63 miles during the Maryland Wine Festival Asthma Ride Bike Tour to help
children suffering from asthma. For three years in a row, Grace received the honor
of being the top corporate fundraiser.
To increase the impact of these contributions, the company’s philanthropic affiliate,
the Grace Foundation, matched donations raised by employees from their colleagues
in the United States and Canada, at 100%.
A similarly important and personal donation is blood. Employees from locations as
diverse as Japan to Germany responded to appeals from local healthcare and emergency
responder organizations to “give the gift of life” and provided more than 500 donations,
with each donation having the potential to save up to three lives1. One group was
even awarded the 2007 Blood Drive Recruitment Committee of the Year by the American
Red Cross (Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Chapter). That team was
able to collect 180 units from 227 participants at five drives.
In order to help spur interest, Grace held the blood drives on company property
and gave employees an extra vacation day after making a certain number of donations
in one year.
Through the combined activities of everyone involved, Grace helps improve the health
of its communities.