SEATTLE — As healthcare providers continue to face unprecedented challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Giving Tuesday and the holiday season provide community members with a great opportunity to support them.
“Giving Tuesday has really grown into a global movement that celebrates and promotes charitable giving all over the world,” said Andrea King, VP of Philanthropic Services at the Swedish Foundation. “With all the crazy challenges this year and with COVID-19 continuing to evolve as a pandemic, it's just more important than ever that we give that charitable support to our not-for-profits.”
As a nonprofit, the Swedish Foundation relies on the community to advance research, improve treatments and provide compassionate care and support. Swedish is working to develop an equitable approach to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available as well as better ways to treat the virus. Additionally, Swedish is creating a new clinic for “long haulers,” patients experiencing long-term effects of the virus.
“The support that we’ve gotten from the community really put us in the best possible position to respond to the pandemic as it was coming on,” King said. She further explained one couple, Ron and Lisa, came in earlier this spring after they both contracted the virus. Ron spent several days in the ICU -- but he has since recovered.
"Fortunately, he's now back at home, he's healthy, and he's able to enjoy all the great outdoor activities with his family and his grandbabies."
Donations to the foundation allow them to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay -- accounting for medical needs as well as other necessities like lodging, meals, and transportation. Additionally, community support helps fund life-saving cancer research and innovative treatments for heart disease.
“Our work is made possible through the generosity of this community, so we hope you’ll choose to make a life-saving difference with a donation,” King said.
You can help support the Swedish Foundation with a one-time gift of cash or stock, a monthly recurring gift, or by including the foundation in your will or estate plans. Learn more and donate here: https://give.swedishfoundation.org/Give
Sponsored by Swedish. Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.