Shepherd Center Breaks Employee Giving Record

Shepherd Center set a new fundraising record this month through ShepherdCares, an employee giving initiative to raise funds for hospital programs or needs. Each year, the ShepherdCares Advisory Committee carefully selects a program to support. The 2011 campaign was dedicated to raising money to purchase a new accessible van for patient driver training in the Dora and Ed Voyles Assistive Technology Center.

Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., president and CEO of Shepherd Center, has announced that the 2011 campaign raised more than $110,800 over a three-week period in September 2010. A record 777 employees (almost 60 percent participation) contributed.

The accessible van purchased from the 2011 campaign will be dedicated in the loving memory of Laura and Karl Anschutz, the teenage children of John Anschutz, the manager of the Shepherd Center Assistive Technology Center. The teens passed away earlier this year.

“My wife Terri and I are thankful for the overwhelming support from the Shepherd staff. It means so much,” Anschutz said. “Helping people to be independent drivers in the community is such an important cause. My son and daughter were always amazed at the creative ways we were able to help our patients at Shepherd Center though assistive technology.”

Dr. Ulicny added: “Our employees have always been very generous. But they really went above and beyond with this campaign. I’m always impressed by the giving spirit of our employ­ees, but this most recent achievement is a testament to their dedication.”

The 2011 campaign theme was “Cruisin’ Down Peachtree: Ramped up to Roll,” and the original goal was to raise $95,000 for the vehicle and equipment. Darryl Kaelin, M.D., medical director for the Acquired Brain Injury Program, and Betsy Fox, director of Human Resources, were the honorary co-chairs, and Pete Collman, community relations coordinator, was the manager of the campaign.