Working together to strengthen our community
Physicians and Philanthropy
CHI Memorial Foundation is the fundraising arm of our health system. Since its founding in 2001, more than $50M has been raised through grants, corporations and individual donors. Every dollar raised stays local and is put to use at CHI Memorial according to donor wishes so that we may better serve patients.
COVID-19 Employee Emergency Fund
Since its inception in 2011, the Dr. Phil Pollock Employee Emergency Fund has helped more than 420 CHI Memorial associates receive the help they need during a time of financial crisis. The Fund has been possible thanks to contributions from generous associates, physicians, and volunteers. This fund was renamed to honor Dr. Pollock in 2019 and is available to associates from all departments and campuses to receive assistance during a time of crisis.
At CHI Memorial, we care deeply about the well-being of our associates – the caregivers on the front line of battling COVID-19. Now they need our help more than ever! We have created the COVID-19 Employee Emergency Fund to provide immediate assistance to employees facing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.
Please join us in supporting these heroes – our associates – by contributing to the COVID-19 Employee Emergency Fund. Your gift of any size will make a huge impact on efforts to help those facing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic. You may give online or by mail via Employee Emergency Fund COVID-19 Relief form.
What does CHI Memorial Foundation do with contributions?
Just in the past few years, CHI Memorial Foundation donations have funded purchasing and helping operate the Breathe Easy mobile lung screening coach, adding three tomosynthesis mammography machines to our MaryEllen Locher Breast Centers, renovating the Community Meeting Rooms including upgrading AV, providing 33 scholarships for staff members to increase their education and earn degrees primarily in nursing, building the new Geriatric Community Clinic at Boynton Towers that serves some of our community’s most vulnerable, and much, much more.
Why should I give?
CHI Memorial relies heavily on support from the community. Each year we ask our medical staff to contribute to a project worthy of support as well. This year we are doing something a bit different. Half of every gift contributed by medical staff will be used for a greatest needs project as determined by our Board of Directors. The other half of all funds contributed will be available for our medical staff/service line leaders to submit requests for needs you see at CHI Memorial. We will implement a funding request process to be reviewed by a group of your peers to select projects for funding.
How can I give to CHI Memorial Foundation?
We try to make giving to the Foundation as easy as possible. We accept gifts of cash, check, credit card, life insurance or appreciated assets such as stock or property. Many of our employed physicians choose to give through payroll deduction. Click here for a response device that can returned to the Foundation Office or make a gift online. All contributions to CHI Memorial Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
How am I recognized for my gift?
Gifts to CHI Memorial Foundation are recognized in our monthly e-newsletter and in our annual report. We also offer recognition at various giving society levels that include permanent recognition on our donor was displayed throughout CHI Memorial’s campuses, such as the deSales Society. The deSales Society was named for Sister Thomas deSales a long-time administrator at Memorial responsible for much of our growth. The deSales Society recognizes donors giving $10,000 or more over a period of three years. Currently, 30 members of our medical staff or retired medical staff are members of the deSales Society.
May my practice make a gift on behalf of our group?
Of course, we often receive gifts from a practice. Gifts can be made directly to the Physician giving Fund or as a sponsorship of one of CHI Memorial Foundations events – Pink Gala in January benefitting the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, CHI Memorial Golf Invitational held each September at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club benefitting Cardiac Services, or Elizabeth’s OutRun Melanoma 5K held in April.
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Nicely at Jennifer_Nicely@memorial.org or (432) 495-4141.