Shepherd Center Employee Giving Campaign Raises more than $113,000 for Teen Patients

Shepherd Center set a new fundraising record this month through its annual employee giving initiative, called “ShepherdCares,” raising more than $113,000 to buy a new, state-of-the-art, accessible bus to be used for field trips for its young adult patient program.

Each year, the ShepherdCares Advisory Committee carefully selects a program to support. The 2012 campaign was dedicated to raising money to purchase a new wheelchair accessible iBus, which includes the latest in technological devices for people with disabilities, to shuttle its young adult patients to and from outings in the community.   

Gary Ulicny, Ph.D., president and CEO of Shepherd Center, announced that the 2012 initiative raised $113,500 over a three-week period in September. A record 870 employees (83 percent participation) contributed. Last year’s initiative raised more than $110,000 to purchase a new accessible van for patient driving training in the Dora and Ed Voyles Assistive Technology Center.

“I am always impressed by the giving spirit of our employees,” Ulicny said. “But this further proves that not only are our employees generous, they are truly dedicated to the patients here at Shepherd Center.”

The 2012 initiative theme was “Get On Board,” and the original goal was to raise $100,000 for the vehicle. Honorary co-chairs of the campaign were Brock Bowman, M.D., associate medical director of Shepherd Center and Susan Johnson, program director of the Acquired Brain Injury Program. Midge Tracy, director of volunteer services coordinated the giving initiative.