IU Health Foundation celebrates its 10,000th donor

Jenny Holliday, a supervisor in the Imaging Services department at IU Health West hospital, wasn’t expecting fanfare when she made a gift to IU Health Foundation as part of this year’s Heart of IU Health team member giving campaign.

Nonetheless, the Foundation’s first donor, Shelly Schwarz, showed up at Holliday’s office with flowers and a warm embrace to honor the milestone she set in motion six years ago. As the Foundation’s 10,000th donor, Holliday made a gift to honor her late mother and the benefits she has received from the Team Member Support Fund.

“I had surgery a few years ago that put me off work much longer than I anticipated,” Holliday said. “The Foundation eased my financial burden, and I felt compelled to give back to help others who may have similar needs. My mom was also a cancer patient at IU Health. I think she would’ve supported a health system that does so much good in the lives of others.”

Holliday has worked at IU Health for 12 years. She supervises the front desk team that greets patients when they arrive and performs diagnostic imaging.

“It’s no surprise the Foundation’s 10,000th gift came from a team member,” said the Foundation’s Director of Campaigns, Megan Madia. “Our team members truly are the heart of our health system, and they witness the power of philanthropy to make all the difference in healthcare every day.”

Holliday hopes her gift inspires others to give in whatever way they can, and that it removes any stigma for team members and patients who might be afraid to reach out for help when they need it.

“Everyone needs help sometimes,” she said, “and I think it’s important to promote that it’s okay to not be okay!”

To join Holliday as she helps build a healthier Indiana through a gift to IU Health Foundation, make a gift today. To learn more about the many ways philanthropy shapes IU Health’s work, visit allthedifferencein.org.