Published in CenterView October 26, 2009
UMMC Cares community campaign to run Nov. 2-13
Making a donation to support a good cause will be easier than ever this year. Gone are the bulky envelopes that had to be distributed, filled out by hand, returned and tabulated. This year's UMMC Cares campaign has gone completely online.
Helen Turner, Campaign Chair
Employees throughout the Medical Center can log on to a secure Web site in the Lawson portal (the same place you find your electronic pay stub) to donate. As in the past, you may make donations using payroll deduction, credit card, check or cash. As has been the custom in the past, a number of prizes will be offered to encourage participation.
A UMMC Cares Web site with background on the organizations we're supporting, multimedia features, a list of the prizes and daily updates of campaign totals will be posted next Thursday (Oct. 29) at http://communitycampaign.umc.edu.
Dr. Helen Turner, UMMC Cares campaign committee chair and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said any gift, large or small, will make a difference to our community. "These are our neighbors, often our patients, people who make up the backbone of the towns that make up greater Jackson. They need our support now more than ever. I encourage you to please do what you can to answer this call. Thanks in advance."
Beneficiaries
They share a common goal of raising awareness and helping the community: the United Way of the Capital Area and voluntary health agencies Mississippi Kidney Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Mississippi, and March of Dimes.
Employees of the University of Mississippi Medical Center often need look no further than their coworkers and friends to see these groups' impact, whether it's through funding research or helping in a time of need.
From Nov. 2-13, the Medical Center community has the opportunity to demonstrate its support for those organizations through a one-time donation or payroll deduction.
At a time when neighbors and family may be hard hit by the economic downturn, the Medical Center has the opportunity to share its success through donations to six agencies that provide valuable resources to those in need. Let's look at some of the agencies' work and their connections to the Medical Center.
Mississippi Kidney Foundation
Jenkins
Kidney disease is often referred to as the "silent disease" because it has no symptoms in the early stages. That's why the Mississippi Kidney Foundation is committed to early detection and prevention of kidney disease.
It also offers financial, educational and emotional support to patients coping with this life-altering chronic disease. One of those patients well aware of the MKF's work is Katina Jenkins, a UMMC Renal Clinic research coordinator and kidney transplant recipient.
"They help patients economically who are lacking sufficient income. Donations help patients with their medications," she said.
Jenkins uses her experience with chronic kidney disease to encourage and educate others fighting their own battles. In 2001, she was diagnosed with a rare immune system disease that damaged her kidneys. Jenkins began dialysis in 2003 and received a kidney transplant in 2007.
Mississippi has one of the highest rates of kidney disease, per capita, in the nation.
"So many people suffer from chronic kidney disease. If it wasn't for the Kidney Foundation, a lot of patients wouldn't receive the resources they need," Jenkins said.
United Way of the Capital Area
Burger
United Way of the Capital Area serves Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties with the goal of investing, advocating and leveraging resources to address community needs. Educational advancement, affordable housing, affordable health care and financial stability for families are the pillars of the organization's mission.
"The dollars we raise here stay here to support our work in early childhood literacy and drop-out prevention, helping families to become financially independent and providing assistance for the under- and noninsured," said Carol Burger, president and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area.
United Way of the Capital Area maximizes each gift by combining contributions and investing in results-driven programs and initiatives. For example, United Way has partnered with the IRS to provide free tax preparation for families with low incomes. They also have partnered with community groups, such as Stewpot Community Services, to help with tutoring programs for youth.
With the economic downturn, Burger said the most requests for assistance are for mortgage or rent relief and basic needs, like food.
American Heart Association
Carpenter
The American Heart Association is second only to the federal government in nonindustry funding of cardiovascular disease and stroke research. It funded more than $2 million in programs at the Medical Center in 2008.
Liz Carpenter credits AHA-funded research with bringing about medical advances that enabled her to receive a successful heart transplant. Carpenter had a congenital heart defect that required a transplant, which she received at the Medical Center in 2004.
Before then, she was aware of the AHA's work to find answers to heart disease.
"It was just encouraging to know there was something happening with the research," she said.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in Mississippi. The state has the highest death rate from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than any other state in the nation. Risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure and smoking contribute to cardiovascular disease and are more prevalent in Mississippi. Through research funding, community education and advocacy programs, the AHA leads the fight against cardiovascular disease.
American Cancer Society
Holman
Dr. Tereza Holman is director of the stem cell laboratory in the Medical Center's bone marrow transplant unit and a breast cancer survivor.
Holman had spent her career in microbiology, but her cancer diagnosis in 2005 set her focus on cell biology and cancer. She received an American Cancer Society research grant from 2007-09 and has been involved in various awareness and fund-raising events for ACS.
"People who listen to me realize the impact of their money and where it's going. It will help find a cure for cancer," she said.
The ACS is the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent. The society spent about $148 million on cancer research in FY 2008, and it is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.
American Lung Association of Mississippi
Yates
The American Lung Association's mission is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health through direct assistance, education programs, advocacy and research. In Mississippi, one in 10 children has asthma.
More than 10,000 people in every Mississippi county have lung disease. It's the third-leading cause of death.
Dr. Anne Yates, professor of pediatrics and asthma specialist, believes the ALAM's work makes a difference in the lives of those living with asthma or lung disease.
"The Lung Association gives them additional resources to help them understand and treat their asthma," she said.
Yates serves on the medical advisory board of the organization and volunteers at its asthma camp, where children learn how to better control their asthma. The ALAM reaches more than 35,000 students each year with its tobacco-free message.
"The Lung Association has given money to research to help us discover better ways to treat asthma," Yates said. In the past 30 years, the Lung Association has given UMMC $1 million in research funding and $1.6 million to support the Medical Center's pulmonary division.
March of Dimes
Nichols
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization helping mothers have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. If a baby is born premature, the March of Dimes offers information and comfort to families, according to local representative Ashley Nichols.
Donations help fund this effort and the research that aims to find and prevent problems that threaten babies. March of Dimes invested $26.8 million in new research grants to better understand and eventually prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Each year, the Mississippi chapter of the March of Dimes distributes more than $50,000 in grants to community projects.