Year-end membership fund drive builds on $50,000 investment in Porter Medical Center for COVID-19 preparation
MIDDLEBURY—The Porter Medical Center Auxiliary has raised $14,000 through a special membership fundraising drive for a winter COVID-19 testing center at the University of Vermont Porter Medical Center. The new fundraising drive follows the Auxiliary’s 2020 investment in Porter of $50,000, which has helped the hospital prepare for and address COVID-19 in our community.
“Over the last year, Porter Medical Center has faced historic challenges, from a pandemic to a cyberattack, and through it all has never stopped delivering on its mission of providing high-quality healthcare to Addison County and the surrounding communities,” said Auxiliary President Gretchen Ayer. “While there is hope that we are at the beginning of the end with COVID-19, the Auxiliary is pleased to help support the amazing and dedicated Porter medical staff with more resources as we enter the new year.”
Ayer noted that typically the Auxiliary earmarks its investments for specific projects, which since 2016 have included $380,000 to support the creation of Porter ExpressCare, renovations at Helen Porter, and other projects. In April, as COVID-19 was spreading throughout the United States, the Auxiliary board voted unanimously to make its annual $50,000 contribution without restrictions so Porter could prepare for COVID-19 and other health care challenges facing our community. In November, the Auxiliary board approved the $14,000 commitment for the creation of the winter shelter, which will be fully funded through the recent fundraising drive.
“We are once again so grateful to our Porter Medical Center Auxiliary for this significant contribution to our organization and to this very timely and important project to facilitate COVID-19 testing for members of our community,” said PMC spokesperson Ron Hallman.
While the traditional in-person events held annually by the Auxiliary – An Evening for Porter and its popular casino night – have been suspended due to COVID-19, the Auxiliary plans some virtual and potentially in-person events for 2021.
About the Porter Medical Center Auxiliary
The Porter Medical Center Auxiliary is composed of more than 300 members from the Addison County community who support the mission of the Porter Medical Center. Founded in 1934, the Auxiliary has donated more than $1 million to Porter Hospital and Helen Porter Rehabilitation. The Auxiliary supports the hospital through community fundraisers, business sponsorships, and through the operation of upscale retail store Round Robin, which donates 100% of its proceeds to Porter Medical Center. To support the Auxiliary, please visit https://www.portermedical.org/donate/auxiliary.
About The University of Vermont Health Network
The University of Vermont Health Network is an academic health system that is comprised of six affiliate hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group, and a home health agency. We serve the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives. Our partners include:
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
- The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health and Hospice
Our 4,000 health care professionals are driven to provide high quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each of our hospitals remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.