Health First Foundation

Health First Foundation, Inc. (hffi) is the fundraising arm of Health First, whose mission is to help improve the Health and well-being of residents in the community by raising funds to support and advance the mission of Health First and its family of charitable healthcare providers. 100% of the funds raised go to direct support in the following areas: capital construction and renovation, capital equipment and technology, patient care, program services, special projects, education and clinical excellence, indigent care and patient education.during fy23, more than 4,530 individuals, foundations, corporations and other organizations supported the mission and vision of hffi. Through their generosity and the dedicated stewardship of the resources entrusted to us, hffi was able to provide over $766,176 in program support in the following areas: capital equipment and technology, patient care, program services, special projects, education and clinical excellence, indigent care and patient education. Gifts were used to improve hospital facilities, purchase life-saving medical equipment and technologies like gi genius and trauma hal, provide patient wellness information, fund scholarships for clinical education, offer caregiver resources and support, provide grief counseling for children and families who have lost a loved one, as well as ensure access to quality care for indigent patients.fy23 saw the growth of the compassionate care fund. This fund enables awards of guardian angel grants to assist eligible patients with transportation, prescriptions, and medical equipment. These grants are coordinated by our clinical care teams and are made possible by donations to the compassionate care fund.philanthropic support of hffi also provides funding for Health First aging services, which served over 5,527 caregivers and their loved ones with services such as: -memory evaluation and management -future planning and care coordination with family members and physicians -medication review and education -fall prevention education with gait and balance exam and treatment -caregiving training and support endowed funds held by Health First totaled $1,221,226 at end of fy23. Three of these endowed funds, mike means larry garrison endowment for nursing excellence, the igo endowment fund and henry nursing endowment, along with gifts from the community and associates provided a total of $87,500 in nursing scholarship awards to 35 associates pursing a bachelor's or master of science in nursing.donations also funded scholarships to train associates for the in-demand roles of medical assisting and respiratory therapists, provided updated equipment for the skills lab at Health First's holmes regional medical center, Inc., ongoing training modules for nurses, and training and supplies for team lavender - a coordinated response team to address the spiritual, emotional, and psychological needs of healthcare workers following adverse events and accumulated stress. Donations enhanced patient care by supplying funds for patient information binders for newly diagnosed cancer patients, breast cancer treatment handbooks for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and chemo bags to support the experience of patients receiving chemotherapy. Gifts to hffi also provided: - materials for 'reach out and read' literacy program through Health First pediatrics - halo sleep sacks for newborns born at holmes regional medical center - child life specialist program supplies for the pediatric ed at holmes regional medical center - ongoing support for hospice of Health First's bright star programs and camps - supplies for forever a hero and love stitches programs through hospice of Health firstdonor support helped advance medical technology, expand patient care and empower clinical excellence through Health First.