An energized campaign to enlist staff members in employee giving has netted 1,247 program participants — about 38 percent of City of Hope’s staff.

The participation rate is just short of the campaign’s final goal of 45 percent, and
organizers are hopeful that staff members will continue to sign up for the program.

Employee giving inspires and enables City of Hope faculty and staff to pledge their own funds to the institution — funds that support important research, treatment and education efforts.

To get its second annual campaign started, the Department of Employee Giving held a kickoff event May 3, organizing pizza parties at the Development Center in Los Angeles, as well as each regional office. The next day, the department invited staff at the Duarte, Calif., campus to a barbecue at Heritage Park. More than 1,500 City of Hope employees gathered for the picnic, where they learned about the importance of the program. Within two hours, 55 employees signed up for the program, and several joined later.

Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer of City of Hope, spoke at the festivities and underscored the significance of the program. “Your participation speaks volumes to those in the community about how we value the mission of this institution,” said Friedman. About 40 faculty and staff members immediately signed up.

Mary Anderson, the program’s director, said that staff members’ support demonstrates employees’ commitment to City of Hope’s mission. “The public looks to employee giving as a sign of confidence, so it plays a significant role in persuading others to give,” she said.

Event organizers thanked Food and Nutrition Services (FANS), which is managed by Sodexho. FANS Director Richard Colon and his team “did an outstanding job and went above and beyond,” Anderson noted. “They provided extra beverages at cost, served food and helped make the event a success.”

To learn more about employee giving or to enroll, please contact Anderson at ext. 26347.