Penn's Way Campaign Kickoff

On Monday October 5th the University and Penn Medicine kicked off our annual combined workplace giving annual Penn’s Way Campaign. Last year through the generosity of the combined University and Penn Medicine faculty and staff members we surpassed the $1.2 Million Dollar Goal by raising $1,310,454. Our collective generosity allows us to make a broader, more immediate impact on the lives of the most vulnerable citizens in our region, many of whom are not as fortunate as us.

Not a day goes by that we don’t learn about a friend or relative who has lost their job due to the economic downturn. Imagine losing your weekly or monthly paycheck AND your health care benefits for your family. Our Penn’s Way partners, Center for Responsible Funding (CRF), Penn Medicine and United Way, provide a safety net for people WE KNOW directly or indirectly. Think about the father or mother who finds themselves unemployed and uninsured for the first time in their life. Can you envision the panic they must feel trying to provide for their children’s or elderly parents needs without their normal resources. Many of these folks have personal medical issues or their children have medical needs that require special medication or food types that they can no longer afford to purchase. Penn’s Way also supports the elderly who can no longer live independently and need the assistance of our West Philadelphia friends at St. Ignatius Nursing Facility, or senior citizens who want to live in their homes and CAN with the assistance of our Penn Nursing LIFE program at 45th and Chestnut.

These are real people just like us who need our help. We ARE THE BLESSED ONES who are employed by a generous employer Penn! So think about if all of us gave a few dollars a week to help our fellow Philadelphian’s.

Don’t internalize all of the negative things you hear everyday in the news. Be open to all of the good deeds that occur everyday around us. By co-chairing the Penn’s Way Campaign over these past 9 years I have seen so much good work being done by the many organizations that our Penn’s Way Campaign supports. These organizations offer help and support to every segment of our society….to people that could be and may be us someday.

I ask that you take a moment today or tomorrow to pledge your support to your favorite cause or issue through our Penn’s Way Campaign. Visit the Penn’s Way website http://www.upenn.edu/pennsway to learn about all of the ways you can “pay it forward” and “give back” to our neighbors and friends. Together we are STRONGER TOGETHER!